Texas Fish & Game January 2017

VOICE OF THE TEXAS OUTDOOR NATION

Let’s Go

Winter Surfing!

JANUARY 2017 | $3.95

Toxic Trout

CWD:

Cleaning Up Galveston Bay

Muzzle Loaders for

Late Season Deer

Hype or Deathly Serious?

Early Spawn:

Target

Big Bass Now!

It’s January,

It’s Boat Showtime!

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Aoudad:

Toughest Hunt in N. America?

www.FishGame.com

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SUBSCRIPTIONS

Published by Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC. TEXAS FISH & GAME is the largest independent, family-owned outdoor publication in America. Owned

by Ron & Stephanie Ward and Roy & Ardia Neves.

ROY NEVES PUBLISHER

CHESTER MOORE

1745 GREENS ROAD, HOUSTON, TX 77032 PHONE

(800) 725-1134 MYACCOUNT.FISHGAME.COM

ARDIA NEVES

TEXAS FISH & GAME (ISSN 0887-4174) is published monthly

by Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC., 1745 Greens Road, Houston, Texas 77032. ©Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC. All rights reserved. Content is not to be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission. The publication assumes no responsibility for unsolicited photographs and manuscripts. Subscription rates: 1 year $19.00; 2 years $34.75; 3 years $48.50. Address all subscription inquiries to Texas Fish & Game, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, Texas 77032. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for response. Give old and new address and enclose latest mailing address label when writing about your subscription. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: TEXAS FISH & GAME, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032.

Address all subscription inquiries to TEXAS FISH & GAME, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032.

Email change of address to: subscriptions@fishgame.com.

Email new orders to: subscriptions@fishgame.com.

Email subscription questions to: subscriptions@fishgame.com.

EDITOR IN CHIEF

VICE PRESIDENT/ADVERTISING DIRECTOR DIRECT PHONE:

C O N T R I B U T O R S

EMAIL: ANEVES@FISHGAME.COM

JOE DOGGETT DOUG PIKE TED NUGENT LOU MARULLO MATT WILLIAMS CALIXTO GONZALES LENNY RUDOW STEVE LAMASCUS DUSTIN ELLERMANN KENDAL HEMPHILL WILL LESCHPER REAVIS WORTHAM TOM BEHRENS GREG BERLOCHER PAUL BRADSHAW CAPT. MIKE HOLMES DUSTIN WARNCKE STAN SKINNER LISA MOORE

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR EDITOR AT LARGE HUNTING EDITOR FRESHWATER EDITOR SALTWATER EDITOR BOATING EDITOR FIREARMS EDITOR SHOOTING EDITOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR CONSERVATION EDITOR HUMOR EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CONTRIBUTING PHOTO EDITOR

ONLINE SUBSCRIBER SERVICE

A D V E R T I S I N G

(281) 869-5549

DUSTIN WARNCKE • ADVERTISING SALES DIRECT PHONE:

(512) 497-7674

EMAIL: DWARNCKE@FISHGAME.COM LARRY DALTON • ADVERTISING COORDINATOR 1745 GREENS ROAD HOUSTON, TX 77032 PHONE: (281) 227-3001 • FAX (281) 784-2962

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Periodical postage paid at Houston, TX 772679946 and at additional mailing offices.

Paid Distribution of over 90,000 Verified by Independent Audit

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Table of

JANUARY 2017 Volume 33 • NO. 9

Contents FEATURES

TOXIC TROUT

COVER STORY: Early Spawners If you’re like the majority of Texans, you live within 90 miles of world class bass fishing. Since the biggest bass are early spawners, now is the time to make the trip to one of the 65 lakes that have produced largemouths weighing 13 pounds or more for the state’s ShareLunker program. Data show that the biggest entries from the top producing lakes were caught in the first two months of the year. So, when we say “now,” we mean “right now!”

Dangerous concentrations of dioxins have been found in Galveston Bay, and official warnings have been issued on the consumption of speckled trout from parts of the area. Here is an honest account of this breaking situation.

by Danielle Sonnier

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TF&G Staff Report Cover Photo by John N. Felsher

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

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AOUDAD! Aoudad are a hardy species—very agile, with a vertical leap of more than seven feet.

Thus, they can be extremely hard to hunt, even on small high-fenced operations.

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by Chester Moore

MUZZLE LOADERS FOR LATE SEASON DEER The late muzzle loader season in 90 Texas counties offers hunters one last shot at scoring a trophy buck, or picking up a doe or two for the freezer.

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TF&G Staff Report

It’s Boat Showtime!

CWD CONTROVERSY

by Lenny Rudow

Since landing on Texas soil five years ago, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has sparked controversy and threatened the viability of the state’s massive deer breeding industry. Has TPWD’s response been heavy handed and over-hyped, or appropriate for a deathly serious threat?

www.FishGame.com

by Matt Williams

This is the best time of u year to see boats, boats and more boats. The new year means Boat Show season. Here’s a handy guide.

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Inside FISH & GAME

Contents (continued) COLUMNS

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by ROY and ARDIA NEVES TF&G Owners

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by Joe Doggett

T E X A S

Pike on the Edge

8 LETTERS 78 TEXAS TESTED Nugent in the Wild 80 FISH AND

by Doug Pike

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by Ted Nugent

TF&G Editor At Large

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Commentary

by Kendal Hemphill

TF&G Political Commentator

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Texas Freshwater

by Matt Williams

GAME GEAR

82 TEXAS

TASTED

86 TF&G PHOTOS NEW SECTION

TF&G Freshwater Editor

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Texas Saltwater

by Calixto Gonzales

TF&G Saltwater Editor

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Texas Boating

by Lenny Rudow

TF&G Boating Editor

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Bass University

by Pete Robbins

Special Correspondent

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Practical Angler

by Greg Berlocher

TF&G Contributing Editor

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Texas Guns

by Steve LaMascus

Bare Bones Hunting

48 TEXAS DEPT. OF

TF&G Hunting Editor

50 TEXAS COASTAL

Open Season

by Reavis Wortham

TF&G Humor Editor

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HOT SHOTS

46 TEXAS DEPT.

by Lou Marullo

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40 WINTER SURF 44 TF&G REPORT 44 TEXAS

TF&G Firearms Editor

www.FishGame.com F I S H

DEPARTMENTS

TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

Email Roy and Ardia Neves at ContactUs@fishgame.com J A N U A R Y

Doggett at Large TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

S WE ENTER THIS NEW YEAR, WE WANT TO BEGIN by saying “Thank You” to our loyal readers. Without you, we literally could not do this work, which we consider a true calling and a blessing.

Many of you enjoy the content we produce each month by picking up a copy of TEXAS FISH & GAME at a newsstand or from one of the many racks we have placed in convenience stores and in Academy Sports + Outdoors locations across the state (along with copies of our books).

But the vast majority of you are monthly subscribers, receiving print copies of FISH & GAME in your mail box, or downloading our new digital editions, or— increasingly—using both delivery vessels to enjoy our content.

In the regional outdoor magazine business, there are two basic strategies: one that develops readership by focusing on retail distribution, and one that focuses on building subscriber distribution. We started with a focus on subscription over retail distribution, and have stayed with that strategy. Even with a more recent aggressive push into retail locations such as Academy (that will expand into the D/FW area very soon), we still reach 90 percent of our readers through subscriptions.

Our reasons for this have been simple: we wanted relationships with our readers, not just casual acquaintances. As a result, many of our readers have been with us for decades. We also wanted to cultivate a more stable readership, one that would remain with us, from month to month and from year to year.

Given that even the top-selling magazines on newsstands actually sell only 1/3 of the copies they ship or deliver to retail locations, and that the other two-thirds end up in a shredder, retail distribution is a wasteful, inefficient business. It is still necessary, from a competitive standpoint, and it does have the benefit of introducing new readers to a publication. But it is not a sound strategy for building an entire reader base.

But, of course, building a subscriber base is not easy, either.

While retail distribution has its own logistical challenges and inefficiencies, developing a strong subscriber base has required years of patient and expensive marketing efforts, backed by a continuing investment in the quality of the content out of which our main product is built.

It is no secret that the economics of publishing are upside down (or maybe the true shape is more contorted than that). Income from the proceeds of subscriptions and single copy sales—what we call “Circulation”—amounts to only a tiny fraction of what it takes to operate a magazine or newspaper. Advertising is what keeps most publishers in business—a topic that we will explore in a future installment of this column—and advertisers are only interested if a publication has enough eyeballs glued to its pages and digital screens.

This is where you come in, Dear Readers. Without your continued interest in what we assemble and serve each month, we would have no reason to exist.

Your steady and enthusiastic support is rocket fuel to us. We love interacting with you out in public, over the phone, and in your emails and letters. We use your feedback to continually improve. And the amazingly high percentage of you who keep renewing your subscriptions allows us to move forward without the need to go back to the well—and to the bank—to mount expensive new recruitment drives.

We will never take your support for granted, and we pledge to always do the very best work possible. After all, it is work we love—and we owe you a big thanks for allowing us to keep doing it. Thank You, and Happy New Year!

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by Chester Moore

TF&G Editor in Chief

You’re the Boss

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Editor’s Notes

OF DEFENSE

CONSERVATION FOCUS

58 TEXAS FISHING HOTSPOTS

68 PRIME TIMES

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LETTERS to the Editor Kudos for Kendal

ride farther each day and to endure a longer trek. I wrote “56 Signed the Declaration of Independence,” twice on my bike helmet, to inspire me to become pro-active, to stand for what I believe to be right and to go the distance as the 56 men chose to do.

I have been a reader of TEXAS FISH & GAME, for a number of years, as my father was a subscriber till he passed away in 2012, and I would read the issues whenever I visited him. I have also read them at my brother’s home, as he is a subscriber. I go each month to a local library branch and read their copy, whenever I can.

Thank you for all of your hard work, we readers appreciate it. You are an awesome member of Team TEXAS FISH & GAME! Thanks again, from a tent camping fan, bird watcher, bicyclist, fisherworman and outdoor life enthusiast.

JUST LAST WEEK, I WAS ATTENDing the grand opening of a local Dick’s Sporting Goods in Katy. While standing in the hot sun waiting my turn to meet Uncle Si from the TV show “Duck Dynasty,” I read the July 2016 issue of TEXAS FISH & GAME, I did finally get to meet Uncle Si. He is taller than I expected, has a lively personality and tells comical stories.

I read with interest your article titled “Sacred Honor.” The content of the article taught me more about the men who decided to be “pro-active” and sign the Declaration of Independence, than in all the years I spent paying attention in History class in school.

They were men who made a life-changing decision and we, who have come along after them, are grateful for their foresight, planning and bravery.

Wanted to thank you for doing such exhaustive research for your article. My hope is that other readers of TEXAS FISH & GAME, also became more informed, and it evokes a sense of pride in 56 of our fellow “Americans-To-Be.” In fact, I have frequently used a finetipped Sharpie marker to add inspiring quotes to my bike helmet, to inspire me to

Kim D. Law

Killer Article on Killer Hogs!

CHESTER, YOUR “PROFILE OF A Killer Hog” article was intriguing. This is the kind of article that for me sets TEXAS FISH

From the November issue.

& GAME apart from other magazines. The in-depth nature of the story was truly engaging, especially the parts about how they have figured out what type of hogs typically attack.

And the accounts you had of hogs attacking in people’s yards and stuff was wild. Thank you for something that really gave me a new perspective on hogs and hog hunting.

Shane Oliff THE STORY ON KILLER HOGS TOOK me back to the old tales my grandfather told about running into “pinewoods rooters” down on the Neches River bottoms. Thanks for bringing back some good and scary memories and also for putting a scientific edge on it.

William East I READ THE ARTICLE ON KILLER hogs and found it to be a little spooky but so interesting. Do you think there are “killer hogs” potentially in every county or maybe even within each large group of hogs?

Nolan Gage Editor: Thanks for the great feedback on the hog article. We always try to go beneath the surface in TEXAS FISH & GAME and give you information that is not easily accessible elsewhere. On the question of how many “killer hogs” are in a population that is impossible to tell. We obviously don’t have many attacks so they cannot be super common but part of the equation is the encountering of people. The profile noted these were lone, isolated animals in many circumstances, so those would be the hardest to encounter. They could be in any area, and I suspect there are hogs with these genes so to speak in many places and potentially anywhere. I remember my mentor the late Ed Holder telling me of someone on his lease getting charged by a huge, lone boar and shooting it only to fall at his feet, and looking back it fit this profile. I hope I don’t run into one any time, or at least I hope I see it first.

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EDITOR’S Notes

by CHESTER MOORE :: TF&G Editor-in-Chief

State of the Nation

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AST YEAR WE INTRODUCED the concept of the “Texas Outdoor Nation.”

Texas is larger than many countries and in many social and natural ways is a nation unto itself. Our goal is to give all of you—the Texas Outdoor Nation—the best; most cutting edge outdoor information available, and I believe we are doing that.

For starters, this month we are introducing a new column “Bass University.”

“Bass University” is a long-term project of bass fishing stars Pete Gluczek and Mike Iaconelli that collaborates with virtually everyone in the pro bass fishing world to create a deep learning of bass fishing techniques. I have been to two of their stops and was blown away by the level of information available to the public.

Now, we bring it to you. Each month it will be written by a pro and tailor-made to Texas fisheries. In case you haven’t noticed, Texas is experiencing a bass fishing renaissance, and we want to make sure you have the best information available. Add that to our Hot Spots, Matt Williams’s killer freshwater writings, along with our various features on bass fishing and we’re easily tops in the information on Texas’s most popular fish.

On the saltwater front, we are beginning some of the most unique and in-depth coverage of fisheries that we have ever done. Check out Danielle Sonnier’s “Toxic Trout” story in this issue. We are not only going to give you how-to, but also share information you need

on things via the Web. We’ll cover what is happening with weather and other conditions and consult with top biologists and other high level sources—fun stuff.

This month we begin our yearlong “Texas Safari” series which sees us featuring a differT E X A S

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ent huntable species in each issue. Texas has year-round hunting, and we are going to cover it in a way that I have yet to see anywhere else.

We are talking natives and exotics. This is not just going to be about which ranch to go to hunt the species. We are going to give information about hunting free-ranging exotics, how-to strategies and in-depth profiles of these animals. Exotics are portrayed as animals you drive around in a truck and shoot. That’s perfectly legal, but each species has attributes that you can learn to make for a tremendous actual hunt.

Did you know that you can call in rams? I have an old VHS that my cousin Frank Moore and I filmed calling in a huge merino ram from more than a half- mile away on a ranch in Real County in 1995. I once called in a Hawaiian black ram to within 10 yards and took the animal with my bow. It, by the way, made fine barbecue.

Each of these animal profiles will also feature a recipe. Again we are covering exotics as well as natives. Wait until you see the mule deer story coming later this year. The Texas mule deer has been ignored for too long, and what we have uncovered is shocking.

There are unspoken rules in the outdoor media. There are agendas in the outdoor world. We plan on going wherever it takes to give you the information you need to make informed decisions and enjoy your time in the great outdoors at the highest levels.

This will be a big year for the Texas Outdoor Nation. Expect great things. and spend as much time in the outdoors as you can with your loved ones.

Whether on the water or in the woods, there is no better place to share with the special people in our lives and make incredible memories.

to know. I am talking about actual journalism here.

There is definitely a place for “We Report, You Decide” in an outdoor publication.

Fox News seems to have forgotten that as of late, so why not?

Speaking of saltwater, Check out fishgame. com and sign up for our weekly “State of the Nation” e-blast. Our saltwater stories on flounder and speckled trout have been getting upwards of 50,000 views in a few days. We will never cover who has live shrimp at the bait camp, but we are giving you a “now” spin

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DOGGETT at Large

by JOE DOGGETT :: TF&G Contributing Editor

Yield to Nature

opportunity and mental state to decompress from aggravating demands and deadlines. A fine way to accomplish this is to enjoy the solitude and surroundings. (The key is the aloneness, the ability to commune with nature.

The shotgun start of a high-powered fishing tournament, although potentially rewarding, is not consistent with the concept.)

The second is a heightened sense of meaning and purpose. Although the humdrum routine of a boring and utterly predictable work-a-day schedule might not do much for self-esteem, being amid a flourish of natural settings is uplifting.

The third is an increased awareness. We get dulled going through the daily motions, but nature can inspire more appreciation for the things around us. Looking around, paying attention, we become more vibrant, more tuned.

Finally, we benefit from increased physical activity. In short, we are not sitting for hours behind a computer or obsessing over a smart phone. Nor are we propped in front of a television. Younger participants, in particular, might heed nature’s final upgrade.

According to Emerson and Thoreau, simply observing helps put us in focus, but I submit that fishing adds to the experience. Well, this is not exactly an original thought; I am borrowing from Izaak Walton.

The English author wrote in The Compleat Angler, 1653, “No life, my honest scholar, no life so happy and so pleasant as the life of a well-governed angler; for when the lawyer is swallowed up with business, and the statesman is preventing or contriving plots, then we sit on cowslip banks, hear the birds sing, and possess ourselves in as much quietness as these silent silver streams, which we now see glide so quietly by us.”

I’m not quite certain what a “cowslip bank” is, or whether one even exists on the Sustut River. Or on the Guadalupe River, for that matter.

But never mind. For more than four centuries and regardless of venue, Walton’s assessment has been spot-on.

I found that same quietness when, as a

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ENRY DAVID THOREAU famously called it “the therapeutic value of nature.” The mid-19th Century American philosopher and naturalist based this conclusion on the two years he spent living by Walden Pond in New England.

In his book, Walden, he said, “I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright.”

Thoreau’s observations echoed those of his contemporary, the transcendental philosopher and essayist, Ralph Waldo Emerson. I have a leather-bound copy of one of his early books, Nature: Addresses and Lectures.

Emerson said, “In the woods we return to wisdom and faith. There I feel that nothing can befall me in life, no disgrace, no calamity (leaving me my eyes), which nature cannot repair.”

I pondered over these Big Thinkers following a fly fishing trip to the wilds of northern British Columbia last October. We were fishing at the small, well-run Suskeena Lodge on the Sustut River, a tributary of the Skeena River.

The great Skeena drainage arguably hosts the largest run of wild steelhead (big sea-run rainbow trout) in North America. It certainly offers some of the most impressive scenery of snow-capped mountains and green forests.

And the sparkling Sustut flows through the core of the upper valley—no roads, accessible only by small aircraft on a gravel strip. You leave behind the congestion and clutter of daily life, and you cannot wade into such a setting without realizing the significance of being out there amid nature’s beauty and bounty.

Studies have concluded that “being out there” provides at least four significant advantages.

The first is stress reduction. We have the

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kid, I fished alone for bluegill sunfish in the Hermann Park Duck Pond in urban Houston.

It’s all relative. But, as we become increasingly jaded, the truly wild and awesome places cut through the chaff with more authority.

Fishing does enrich the experience of being out there. The angler is part of the chain of life.

The focused predator holding a fishing rod has his casting hand on the very pulse of the water.

I recall one incident during the recent Sustut trip. The sun broke through high snow clouds, briefly highlighting distant peaks and illuminating the tall trees along the far bank.

The river ran cold and clear and clean.

The two-handed Spey rod swept smooth and strong, firing a well-timed “snap T” cast at a 45-degree angle downstream. The 90-foot fly line unfurled and the streamer started to swing in the proper manner. It all felt good; I was grounded, centered in the moment.

The swinging line jolted then pulled tight in a thrilling surge as a steelhead snatched the passing fly and turned downstream.

Dacron backing spun from the reel as the determined fish ran. Then it stopped. I began pumping and reeling. The fish held in the deep current and shook its head and refused to move—the signature of a good one, maybe a 15- or 20-pound scarlet-cheeked buck.

The steelhead slowly tired, and the long rod worked it close. The visible fish started shrinking, as they often do over a hungry heart. I guessed the weight at 11 or 12 pounds, about average for the river—but it lived large.

And it was a gorgeous steelhead, boldly minted and without a blemish, as wild as the country to which it returned.

As the fish swam free, I paused to breathe the sharp air and to gaze at the mountains and forests. I lowered my head and mumbled a few words. I was grateful to be alive. And, as so long ago, I was possessed “in as much quietness as these silent silver streams, which we now see glide so quietly by us.”

Email Joe Doggett at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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PIKE on the Edge

by DOUG PIKE :: TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

Play Date on a Bay Boat

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INCE OUR NINE-YEAR-OLD boys were barely eight, Andrew Cloutier and I have tried to coordinate a fishing trip for ourselves and the three of them. His are a matched set, and I’ve got the one.

He works all week. I get Mondays and chunks of Fridays off but work weekends.

The boys are in school when school’s in, which pretty much leaves holidays and/or vacation time as windows of outdoor opportunity.

We finally pulled it off this past Thanksgiving. The men were on vacation, and the boys were out of their classrooms on the same week. Andrew and I recognized this as a “now or never” chance for all five of us to fish together, finally, and we took it.

His identical twins play football. Mine’s a baseball player. Between the three of them, there’s not a single rudder or set of brakes.

They’re boys head to toe, either full throttle or fast asleep, and they all like to fish.

“This will be easy,” I told Andrew beforehand. “We’ll get some live shrimp, sit on a hole full of fish, hang shrimp on hooks and let the kids have some fun.”

We met shortly after noon at his Galveston bay home, on the water, then made the short boat ride to a nearby marina for bait. That marina, Andrew was confident leading up to this postcard-perfect afternoon, always has live shrimp.

Except that day.

There was no “white flag” waving from the pole. They’d get a fresh supply, the attendant told me as if it would matter, around sunset.

Plan B, lure chunking, was put into action.

Sort of.

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well-behaved boys and responded (albeit temporarily) to an occasional insistence from Andrew or me that they settle. Andrew and I both coach sports teams. We know how to get boys’ attention, so we had that going for us if push ever had met shove. They were having the time of their lives, however, fish or no fish, and neither Andrew nor I was going to rob them of the experience.

Between us, Andrew and I scraped together enough bites to give each of the boys a couple of turns on bent rods. They all were happy.

Two minutes after we had the boat back in its sling, the boys were playing baseball in the vacant lot next door as if they’d just awakened from long naps.

About that bit of advice I promised. This past summer, I was told by a plumber (after I’d already said it) that saying “This will be easy” out loud—about anything—pretty much guarantees it will not be easy. That time, the utterance turned a $75 job into a $350 job.

I didn’t learn. A month later, I accidentally said the same thing when another plumber followed me into my mother’s house for an “easy” job. That one turned from a 20-minute, $90 repair into a three-hour, $500 replacement.

Andrew and I stood there, watching them play, and talked of another trip…for just the two of us.

Our schedules being what they are, and with that plumber’s words still echoing in my head, I know it won’t be easy.

Andrew runs a beautiful, roomy Pathfinder that’s perfect for three grown men, maybe four who really know what they’re doing. It’s fine also for two skilled adults helping three boys watch popping corks hung over live shrimp. Only we had no live shrimp. (I know why, and I’ll tell you later so you don’t make my mistake.)

We idled around a corner and drifted down the shoreline where Andrew and a buddy caught more than two dozen trout the same morning. They’d kept the six or eight that looked tastiest and were long enough for keeping, and he had pictures to prove it.

The Cloutier boys were rigged with Gulp!

Soft plastics under corks, and mine opted for one of Bob Norton’s Sand Eels. Andrew and I stood like bookends at the bow and stern, keeping the boys’ baits in the water and making a few—emphasize few—casts of our own.

Action on the afternoon’s incoming tide didn’t match that of the morning’s outflow.

We fought a good fight on that shoreline, but left with little to show for the effort.

The attention-span standard of measure for kids, about 10 minutes per year of age, is remarkably accurate. At more or less the 90-minute mark, the boys began to lose interest in not catching fish. If only there’d been a wide-open pasture adjacent to that shoreline.

So now we’ve got three bored, highly energetic boys in the middle of the boat. We moved, and the boat ride forced the boys to sit somewhat still for a few minutes. On the next stop, in water that looked “fishy” and had active bait, the boys passed on fishing.

I’m at one end, and Andrew’s back at the other. We’re both trying to hook fish so the kids can take turns winding them to the rod tips.

Meanwhile, the three little stooges are playing tag, rummaging through tackle boxes and storage lockers, and eating everything on board that’s edible. They’d be under my feet a while then migrate up toward Andrew.

Then back to me, then in his way some more.

Terrier puppies are less energetic.

High-strung as they are, though, these are F I S H

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NUGENT in the Wild

by TED NUGENT :: TF&G Editor-at-Large

The Politics of Hunting

Republican President elect in one defiant, status quo crushing, establishment sucker punching, roustabout, street fighting, hell raising Donald J. Trump.

Rejoice like you mean it my friends, rejoice sincerely that today, American hunters and gun owners now have a real friend in the White House, and to each and every American that did the right thing and voted for Donald J. Trump, I sincerely thank you and heartily SALUTE you!

Much evidence points to the upgrade in hunter rich Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania from blue states to red states that won it for Trump.

I was there. I saw it. I felt it and I damn well fought relentlessly for it. In all those states with the highest hunting license sales, we the sporters of America put all the pettiness aside and voted our conscience and kicked down the ugly blue wall.

That’s how that works. We the people paying attention, identifying the runaway criminal corruption and abuse of power by our elected employees, and stepping up to the plate to take action to correct the wrongs.

Nicely done. Rather late in the game, but better late than never.

We hunters and gun owners have some very serious quality of life, pursuit of happiness flesh in the game. It is indeed all politics all the time that determine our hunting laws and regulations. It is pure politics that determine just how infringed our God given, individual, constitutionally guaranteed right to keep and bear arms will be.

In those states that dare waste our tax dollars hiring so called sharpshooters to slaughter our deer is a direct, tragic result of our abject failure to perform our we the people political duties.

In the otherwise great Republic of Texas it is the travesty of a Texas Parks and Wildlife gang of dishonest bureaucrats that violate their constitutional oath and dare to criminally slaughter private deer herds hiding and lying behind the dastardly junk-science scam of chronic wasting disease.

In those states where we cannot keep and bear arms un-infringed, it is a tragic, disastrous result of our “we the people’s” abject failure to demand oath keeping from our elected employees.

P

OLITICS! BAH HUMBUG! Can’t stand politics!

I’ve heard it over and over again and again for so many years.

“That Nugent is just too damn political!”

What a terrible shame that any American can reference politics as anything negative, when in fact American politics in this sacred experiment in self-government is purely and simply we the people demanding Constitutional accountability from our elected employees.

Got that? Experiment in self-government!

It is worth repeating especially in this glorious, ever-loving hunter heaven Texas Fish & Game environment.

Write this down, embrace it, memorize it, live it, breathe it, celebrate it, promote it, demand it, and by all means, as all real Americans have a moral, intellectual, patriotic and spiritual obligation to do so, make sure you all DO IT! “American politics is purely and simply we the people demanding Constitutional accountability from our elected employees.”

Period. End of story. Case closed. Finis!

Excelsior! DUH! To keep things in Uncle Ted backstrap-fever deer season 2016/17 perspective, it is indeed the mighty, celebratory, magical, glorious rut in many regions. It is indeed the ultimate deer hunting time in North America and certainly Texas. And I am confident that like me and my family and friends, it is being celebrated with every ounce of energy we can possibly muster in deer camps nationwide.

But most importantly here today as we continue to celebrate this pivotal and earthshattering American presidential election, and we, glory, glory Hallelujah, God bless America, we the good people of America finally have a victorious 12

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In those states where we are overwhelmed with unreasonable, non-science, ridiculous overregulation, it is directly due to the fact that apathy infests our society, and most embarrassingly, in our apathetic, fragmented, disconnected hunting/conservation community.

When we the people slack off at our responsibilities, Fedzilla has proven time and time again and again that big government goons will always do the wrong thing.

So, though we did good in this presidential election, now we can at least temporarily get back to our hunting lifestyle celebration. Let us hunt with renewed vigor and focus. Let us recharge those batteries to the max, and cleanse our souls in preparation to get political like we mean it, like we’ve never been so political in our lives before.

With our friend Donald J. Trump at the keel, it will be up to all of us to get America back on its proper True North compass setting ASAP. We the people who truly care must get back our 2nd Amendment rights nationwide. We the people who know and care must now get back our proper science based hunting, fishing, trapping and all conservation rights back where they belong; in the hands of we the people.

Now is not the time to take it easy or take it for granted. Hunters and gun owners are a major political force to reckon with as long as we wield that power properly and effectively.

Any hunter or gun owner that fails to perform their American we the people responsibilities and vote constitutionally has failed miserably at true Americanism.

Do not let up. Our job is never done. We must now more than ever maintain constant, relentless pressure on our mayors, senators, congressmen, state reps, governors and president to be constitutionally accountable.

We can and must still hunt like we mean it.

Celebrate a wonderful victory like you mean it.

Be the proper we the people political force we are supposed to be like you mean it.

God bless American hunting families everywhere. God bless America!

Email Ted Nugent at tnugent@fishgame.com

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12/6/16 12:34 PM

TF&G COMMENTARY

by KENDAL HEMPHILL :: TF&G Political Editor

Trump .45

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ARRING UNFORESEEN events to the contrary, Donald J. Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States of America on January 20. Some Americans are happy about that, some are ambivalent, and some are so distraught they can hardly get through a day without breaking down.

My position, as a political commentator, is pretty much neutral about Donald J. Trump.

However, I have to admit the thought that Barack Obama will no longer occupy the White House makes me happier than a puppy with two tails.

Trump’s victory last November seemed to come as a surprise to most of the country, including many of those who voted for him.

Only time will tell what kind of president he will be. Just about every gun owner and outdoorsperson in the nation is currently breathing a sigh of relief that Trump was elected, and not his opponent, considering her avowed intentions toward gun control. Not that the Second Amendment is necessarily safe for the next four years, but it is at least in far less peril than it would have been if Trump had lost.

No president is perfect, and Trump will definitely be no exception. He will do things a lot of us disagree with, but many gun owners are hopeful that he will also support some much-needed changes in the area of firearms legislation. He announced shortly after the election that he was in favor of a national reciprocity agreement for concealed carry, which is a good start, but somewhat lame. A better goal would be national constitutional carry, which would negate the necessity for U.S. citizens to pay the government in order to exercise a right already supposedly protected by that same government.

This seems, on the surface to be a good idea, but when we dig deeper and consider it seriously, we can see that it’s actually a great idea.

Email Kendal Hemphill at ContactUs@fishgame.com

The ban (tax) on suppressors should be dropped, if for no other reason, to protect the hearing of shooters.

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weapon equipped with a suppressor. Use of suppressors in the commission of crimes is extremely rare, but when it happens, an extra ten years in the Graybar Hotel should be as good a deterrent as anything else. The same rule could be applied to short-barreled rifles, allowing us to abandon the antiquated ban.

When my friends speak to me about suppressors, they have to shout, since I’ve only owned one for about five years. Previous to that I spent my weekends happily destroying whatever mechanisms are in my ears that used to allow me to hear, because guns are loud.

Plus I can never find my earmuffs.

It’s time for the gun community to speak up, loudly, in favor of dropping the tax on suppressors. The only people who should be opposed to this idea are hearing aid salespeople (I use hearing aids in every ear I own).

The evidence that these two changes would make no difference in crime is obvious—honest people have these items now, legally, and have for a long time. Criminals have them, illegally, and always have.

Possession of suppressors and short-barreled rifles don’t cause crime. If they did, there would be a lot more crime lately, since suppressor sales have been going through the roof for several years. Besides, I’m still vague on how something that is too dangerous for me to own suddenly becomes less dangerous just because I’ve paid the government a tax for the right to own it. How does that work, exactly?

There are other changes in gun laws I’d like to see, but these three would make a pretty good beginning.

As for Donald Trump, I imagine he will find that pulling the plow is not as easy as it looks.

He will not likely be the best president we’ve ever had, but I, for one, think he will be far better than the alternative.

Some, of course, oppose constitutional carry on the grounds that it will allow criminals to carry firearms without a license. Here’s a news flash for those who hold this view: criminals already carry firearms without a license. We can’t stop them, no matter what laws we pass.

Criminals ignore laws. That’s why they’re called criminals. National constitutional carry would do nothing except allow all citizens to legally arm themselves. It would only affect people who obey the laws anyway, whatever the laws are.

Another firearm law which has endured far beyond its usefulness is the ban (tax) on short-barreled rifles. The idea, when this law was instituted with the National Firearms Act of 1934, was to deter criminals such as John Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd, Bonnie and Clyde and their ilk from cutting down shotguns and military surplus automatic weapons for use in robbing banks and such. Those criminals still did whatever they wanted, just as criminals do today. Criminals never change.

A law that would be just as effective (which is none), but would make far more sense would be a statute similar to the law that imposes a mandatory ten years added to the sentence of any person who commits a crime with a

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HE VAST MAJORity of Texans lives within 90 minutes of worldclass bass fishing.

Whether it’s Lake Falcon to the south, Toledo Bend to the east, Alan Henry to the north or a host of lakes in the central part of the state, many lakes are producing huge bass right now. In fact, some 65 lakes in Texas have produced largemouths weighing 13 pounds or larger.

And when we say right now, we mean right now!

Despite getting little media coverage, the biggest bass will spawn early. Warm spells could see some monster fish moving into the shallows during a time when most anglers do not search for them out there.

Look at the Sharelunker program database, which logs bass

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caught that are 13 pounds and larger. The fish are donated to the state for hatchery purposes, so it is obvious we are entering a very special time.

Let us look at two of Texas’s highest ranked lakes on the Bassmaster index—Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn.

Three of the seven Toledo Bend Sharelunkers were caught in February, three in March and another in October. Some eight of the 26 Rayburn Sharelunkers were caught in February, two in January, one in December and the most recent was caught in November.

Lake Conroe, the site of this year’s Bassmaster Classic, has had 17 Sharelunker catches and five of them came in February. Another three came in January and another three came in December.

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For years we have written that the big bass season in East Texas really kicks off in December and gets stronger going into spring.

This year anything could happen during the weather conditions we are having now.

Many of you who are inclined to seek trophy bass are making your fishing plans for 2017. In fact, some of you may even be forgoing bass fishing until the traditional spawn happens. That could be a big mistake.

Lew’s staff pro and FLW Angler Andrew Upshaw is a regular on both Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn and said every year around this time Toledo in particular gets red hot.

“Over the last few years there have been some huge bass caught during this time of year. It’s definitely big bass season,” he said.

And keep in mind it is not just the spawn that is an important period for catching big fish. The pre-spawn produces many of the best catches, and some fish are in pre spawn mode right now.

Numerous Texas lakes are experiencing the “new lake effect” which greatly boosts trophy bass opportunities.

The system becomes super rich in habitat and nutrients because of the vegetation that

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grew on the lakebed during drought. The lakes then become red hot for a season or two, producing monster bass.

Six years ago, Lake O.H. Ivie near San Angelo went through one of these production spikes and produced more Sharelunkers than any other lake in the state by a long shot.

We are seeing that same type of thing happening on Toledo Bend, Rayburn, Conroe and other Texas lakes right now. We are entering the second and in some cases third spring with full lakes after a monster drought.

Something to keep in mind while seeking big bass—use big baits (think huge jigs, worms and crankbaits).

This is because of the “gape width” factor.

That, according to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) Inland Fisheries Chief Craig Bonds, is how far bass can open their mouths.

“If they can fit it in their mouths, they will attack it. Over the years I have seen impressive evidence of this,” Bonds said.

As a graduate student, he conducted a study examining bass dietary habits. He used clear plastic tubes that could be inserted through the mouth, worked into the stomach

and used to extract the contents without hurting the fish.

“I found everything from snakes to small turtles, a baby duck and all kinds of fish from sunfish to other bass.”

Plastic fishing lures were a fairly common item and once he found a bunch of worms of the exact same color and length in one bass.

“I don’t know if someone dropped over a whole bag of worms but this bass had a bunch of them in its stomach all the same color and size. They are opportunistic predators and that shows they will eat pretty much anything.”

Bonds said he once observed a bass leaping from the water in at attempt to catch a dragonfly hovering over the surface. “They are pretty vicious and very determined,” he said.

TFG’s Editor-In-Chief reminds anglers to study areas that feature a high level of large prey species like bream or crappie. “Here is a sample from a trip to Sam Rayburn Reservoir to fish for crappie on a large main lake brush pile in the month of June,” Moore said. “It comes from the additional notes section of my personal fishing log, “Caught a dozen crappie within a few minutes. Guy on the boat with us caught a

12/8/16 8:47 AM

PHOTO: CHESTER MOORE

Bass Pro Steve Phillips said some of the biggest bass of the year are caught when few anglers are on the water.

six- pound largemouth. After that the crappie slowed down to a crawl, and fish held tight to the brush.”

What does that tell you about the fish? The thing that jumps out at me the most is there was a big bass caught on this brush pile as the crappie were feeding aggressively and once it was caught the fish shut down their bite. That means the bass spooked the crappie, and it was not the only one there. The crappie on

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Little details are important in catching big bass and this month a small detail like say a five-degree uptick in water temperatures could send some of the biggest bass toward the shallows.

That means you need to be ready to flip a jig and see what happens.

that brush pile have been hammered by big bass enough to know to get tight to structure when they show.

“The knowledge I have accumulated on bass tells me the biggest fish prefer deep water with access to shallows, which a brush pile like this one provides,” Moore said. “So, in this scenario, I gained knowledge of a potential lunker largemouth hotspot by taking a simple note.”

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HE GALVESTON BAY AREA HAS official warnings on the consumption of speckled trout in large portions of the ecosystem.

According to the World Health Organization, dioxins are environmental pollutants. They belong to the so-called “dirty dozen” a group of dangerous chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants.

“Once dioxins enter the body, they last a long time because of their chemical stability and the ability to be absorbed by fat tissues, where they are stored in the body,” WHO said.

According to the EPA, dangerous amounts of dioxin concentrations have been found in samples collected from the submerged portion of the original 1966 waste ponds near the San Jacinto River.

Biologist Scott Jones with the Galveston Bay Foundation said many potential pollutants can run off from land surrounding the bays, but dioxin is the worst.

“Paper mill wastes are a problem because when you bleach paper,” Jones said. “You use chlorine and you end up making dioxin, a persistent organic chemical that has some really bad properties that can cause cancer and a variety of different illnesses. It can cause developmental problems in the unborn or the young. It is known as the worst toxic chemical out there.”

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12/8/16 9:02 AM

THE TRUTH ABOUT DIOXINS IN GALVESTON BAY story by DANIELLE SONNIER

PHOTO: JOHN N. FELSHER

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Texas Shane Bonnot said. “The EPA came out with a proposal in September, and their plan is to indeed remove the waste pits from that superfund site and from the San Jacinto River.”

According to Bonnot, the EPA will publish a final ruling that will outline their recommendations for the water cleanup project in early 2017. “We hope the EPA sticks to their guns,” he said. “We do indeed recommend to get the waste pit site removed from the river in the first of next year.

Bonnot said the CCA was told no cleanup projects would be started for another four years. “It’s going to be a couple of years of an administrative process working with the responsible parties on the cleanup site,” he said. “Then there will have to be a design and a plan. So, 2020 is probably the soonest we will see any positive difference in the water, and it could take a little bit longer.”

Until changes begin to happen, the water in the Galveston area is expected to retain its current quality.

“Unless there is some sort of breach in the protective cap that’s covering this waste pit site, the water conditions are going to stay the same,” Bonnot said in a recent CCA podcast.

“But if there is a severe storm and we get a lot of flooding- and there is always a potential for some sort of environmental event that could damage that cap,” he said. “Or if a barge running up the river runs into it, that of course potentially allows the dioxins and sediments to wash downstream.”

Bonnot admits the waters will never return to the quality they were before the toxins from the waste pit seeped into the San Jacinto River.

“In 2007, the river widened and some of the sediments that were in the waste pits washed down the river—that’s going to be in the river for the next several hundred years,” he said. “There is no way to recapture that.

That is not going to change, but if we are able to at least remove this waste pit site, we at least prevent any future uncontrolled releases into the river.”

The farther away from the waste pit that aquatic life is caught, the less likely consumption is to be risky, but that is no reason to take the precautions lightly.

“Once this project is done,” Bonnot said.

“It will take some time. It may not be in our lifetime- before we see health advisories lifted on speckled trout in that part of Galveston Bay.”

According to Jones, starting in the mid1960s, barges would dispose paper mill waste into the San Jacinto River at the San Jacinto Waste Pits Superfund site, an area of about 15 acres.

“Not only did we have these open pits that were subject to the waste getting out when it was hit by high river flow from the San Jacinto River,” he said. “Starting in the early ’70s, about half of that pit was going literally into the water.

Ultimately, the fish and shrimp and crab and other seafood have been exposed to this dioxin for 50 years now. As a result, dioxins are one of the reasons there are seafood consumption limitations in parts of Galveston Bay.” “If you’re catching speckled trout, well they’ve been eating smaller fish or they’ve been eating shrimp or other animals that have been eating small animals, and those animals originally were down in the waste eating little organisms and they’re taking in that dioxin,” he said.

After decades of exposure to the waste, aquatic life has inevitably ingested and absorbed dioxin at levels that are dangerous to humans for consumption. Texas Department of State Health Services monitors seafood and administers the seafood advisories. They say the driving factor is the amount of fat in the organisms.

“These types of chemicals reside in the fatty tissue. Animals that have more fat in their tissues are going to have more dioxin or any other toxin,” Jones said. “That’s why not all fish in most of the bay have advisories. That’s why you don’t have redfish listed or flounder listed.”

The source of dioxin was unknown until about a decade ago, according to Jones.

“There had been some anecdotal talk about waste pits,” he said. “Sure enough, in 2005, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) found what looked like a peninsula just north of the I-10 Bridge on the San Jacinto River, and that was the old waste pits.”

TPWD reported it to Texas Commission of Environmental Quality, and then it was reported to the EPA. At that point, the waste pit was added to the superfund list, a list of the most toxic sites.

Multiple organizations are working together to increase the safety of these waters both for people and for aquatic life.

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12/6/16 10:39 AM

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Free-Ranging Across the State for More Than 60 Years, These Exotic Imports are Right at Home in Texas story by CHESTER MOORE 22

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PHOTO: CANSTOCK

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HE AOUDAD MAY BE THE most challenging animal to hunt in North America.

There I said it.

Whitetail purists are liable to balk and those who have pursued Stone’s Sheep or Mountain Goat are likely to disagree and that is perfectly understandable. After all the aoudad is an exotic. But they have been living on free-ranging land in the Palo Duro and Caprock Canyons of Texas for more than 60 years on open land and inhabit much of the Hill Country, parts of South Texas and the Trans Pecos.

Aoudad can be extremely hard to hunt on even fairly small high-fenced operations, but on open range the challenge is at a whole other level. Many hunters in the Hill Country see aoudad on their game cameras at night and kill plenty of freeranging axis and even sika and blackbuck, but rarely aoudad.

There are extremely elusive animals.

Native to North Africa, the aoudad is rufous tawny in color, according to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.

“The insides of the legs are whitish. There is no beard, but there is a ventral mane of long, soft hairs on the throat, chest, and upper part of the forelegs. The horns of the male sweep outward, backward, and then inward; they are rather heavy and wrinkled, and measure up to 34 inches in length. Females also have prominent horns, although they are not as large as those of the male.”

According to Wikipedia, aoudad are fond of mountainous areas where they both graze and a browse.

They are able to obtain get all their moisture from food, but if liquid water is available, they drink it and wallow in it. They are crepuscular, which means they are active in the early morning and late afternoon and rest in the heat of the day. They are very agile and can achieve a standing jump of over seven feet and will flee at the first sign of danger.

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“They are well adapted to their habitats which consist of steep rocky mountains and canyons. When threatened, they always run up and bounce back and forth over the tops of the

mountains to elude predators below. They stay in rough, steep country because they are more suited to the terrain than any of their predators.

Aoudad are extremely nomadic and travel constantly via mountain ranges.”

Over the years I have collected several fascinating stories of the aoudad’s ability to elude hunters.

Two hunters were driving up a mountain in the Trans Pecos to stay at a lodge near the summit. When they looked in the rearview mirror they saw two big aoudad walk out in the road about 100 yards from them. They gradually slowed down, took a rifle out of the rack behind them and eased out of the truck.

The aoudad were gone.

One of the hunters heard that aoudad always went uphill so they scaled the ridge to their side thinking the aoudad would be below them. If they were it would be a pretty easy shot.

The backside of this ridge was clear and these men were prepared with shooting sticks and able to shoot long distances.

When they got to the top they saw nothing so, disappointed, they headed back to the truck.

As one put the rifle back in the case and the other stretched his legs, they turned back and looked at the spot they first saw the two

Aoudad are well adapted to their natural habitat, which is rocky, mountainous terrain. But they have proven adaptable to the various terrains in the geologically diverse regions of Texas.

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aoudad. The grass on the side of the road was about two feet tall. Out of the grass, the two aoudad gradually rose up—they had simply laid down and hid themselves until the men were back in the truck.

Like I said—elusive.

One rancher had a 640 acre tract in Real County that was high-fenced and had aoudad on it when he bough it. If you were to take all of the surface acres with canyons, hills and caves it is probably more like three times that size, at least it has felt that way when I have been there.

Aoudad have rarely been killed there, although herds as large as 30 have been seen.

He came across an aoudad ewe at a game sale and had the idea to fit her with a bell around her neck. When she got with the herd, he could hear the area they were in on the ranch. It is often extremely quiet out there.

The herd completely rejected her.

Another ranch had an aoudad in an acre pen that had grass grown up several feet high.

They went to find the animal to try and lead it into a chute to put in a cage for sale. It took them an hour to find the aoudad in an acre

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Aoudad are smart, agile and have keen senses. If you get a shot at one, take it.

pen. The animal kept quietly crawling around on its knees.

My first encounter with aoudad was on a the Greenwood Valley Ranch and the guide I was with at the time told me to sight my gun in for 100 yards. This was back in 1993 and I was just then breaking into the business, so I wasn’t quite experienced with how things

worked. My first shot was at 250 yards—well beyond the range I was comfortable with.

My girlfriend, Lisa (now my wife), and I both got young ewes the next day on the beautiful Benson Ranch near Johnson City, and that was quite the athletic challenge.

Since then, I have had great respect for these majestic animals.

Aoudad are super smart, have good vision, a keen sense of smell and hearing, and there are no patterns to their movement. Patterns are what help most hunters bag big bucks, and aoudad do not have patterns as well defined as whitetails.

That and the fact they always find the most dense habitat to live in makes them a challenge worthy of any hunter. If you get a chance to hunt aoudad, go for it. If you see one on open range, don’t miss the opportunity to take a shot.

It will likely be the only one you get.

12/8/16 9:53 AM

Texas FRESHWATER

by MATT WILLIAMS :: TF&G Freshwater Editor

The Lakes Most Likely

Nacogdoches County, Naconiche is Texas’s newest bass lake. The 700-acre reservoir was impounded in 2009 and has been salted with Florida bass from the get-go. This includes hundreds of adult ShareLunker offspring and retired hatchery brood fish that are now protected by a 16-inch “maximum” length limit. The rule prohibits anglers from retaining bass longer than 16 inches, unless the fish is a potential candidate for the ShareLunker program.

Good genetics and restrictive limits aren’t the only things Naconiche has going for it. It’s a constant level reservoir fueled by spring-fed creeks. The water here is extremely fertile, and the lake’s forage bases of threadfin shad and bluegill are thriving as a result.

Those factors, coupled with great habitat comprised of hydrillla and jungles of timber and dense brush left intact prior to filling, have set the stage for a perfect storm that already appears to be brewing.

Naconiche produced a 14.12 pounder last July, yet it has been open for fishing for only four years.

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T’S HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT JANuary 24 will mark the 25th anniversary of Texas’s current state record bass.

Weighing a whopping 18.18 pounds, the heavyweight fish was reeled in on a chilly Friday afternoon by Barry St. Clair, then of Klondike. St. Clair and some buddies were dunking shiners for crappie in 42 feet of water near the mouth of Little Caney Creek at Lake Fork when he hooked the fish.

It certainly didn’t come as much of a surprise to learn that Lake Fork had produced a pot-bellied lunker heavier than the former 17.67-pound state record caught from Fork in 1986 by fishing guide Mark Stevenson. Fork was in its hey-day in the late 80s/early 90s.

In fact, the 27,000-acre reservoir was cranking out double-digit bass like a gumball machine at the time, including four more 17 pounders and several in the 15-16 pound range that preceded St. Clair’s fish.

What has come as somewhat of a shock is the fact that no one has caught a bass in the last quarter century that comes remotely close to eclipsing the state record title.

Bryan Turner’s 16.89 pounder from Fork is the biggest Texas bass reported during the last 24 years, and Keith Burns’ 16.17 pounder from Caddo is the heaviest in the last decade. Tommy Shelton was the last angler to crack the Texas Top 10 list when he caught a 16.8 pounder from Sam Rayburn in May 1997. That fish currently ranks No. 9.

It’s anybody’s guess as to if or when Texas might see another state record largemouth from public waters. My guess is it will more than likely happen amid a perfect storm that might come sooner than many bass junkies might think.

So, which lakes have the best shot at such a fish in the near future?

In my book, there are only a handful. Here they are in descending order.

2. TOLEDO BEND: This Texas/ Louisiana border lake has always been a big bass hotspot, but it has been on fire with lunkers the last couple of years. This is reflected by the impressive numbers of 10-plus pounders caught and released as part of the Toledo Bend Lunker Program.

From May 2015 to May 2016, Toledo Bend anglers turned in 139 fish to the Louisiana-based program, including a pair of 13 pounders and one fish weighing 14.16 pounds.

Texas fisheries scientists credit excellent water quality, an exceptional forage base, great habitat and a banner spawn in 2007 with the sudden upswing in number of trophy-class largemouths. The fishing has been so good that the lake has ranked No. 1 among Bassmaster Magazine’s Top 100 Bass Lakes in America the last two years.

Another thing you have to consider is the sheer size of the massive reservoir, which spans more than 181,000 surface acres at full pool. Many anglers believe some bass in the lake have never seen an artificial lure.

3. FORK: Only a fool would compose a list of lakes like this one and exclude Texas’ most famous

1. NACONICHE: Located in northeastern 26

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big bass lake of all-time. There is way too much big bass history there. The lake has produced 257 of the 565 entries for TPWD’s Toyota ShareLunker program, including two state records and seven of the state’s Top 10 bass.

The reason I didn’t rank it closer to the top is because the lake has been in something of a big fish funk the last couple of years. Fork hasn’t produced a ShareLunker entry since 2014, but it did kick out a 16.04 pounder in 2013 and a 15.02 pounder in 2012—rock-solid evidence that some melons are finning around out there.

What is really encouraging about Fork is the huge numbers of fish under the 16-24 inch slot limit that are currently being caught by lake regulars, some reporting daily catches 40-60 fish per day.

The rash of “unders” are the direct result of banner spawns that recently occurred after the lake refilled following several years of low water.

The young fish are sure to get bigger with age, and some are certain to have what it takes to reach double digits. Only time will tell whether or not one of them is able to grow beyond 18.18 pounds—and be willing to bite a hook.

4. AMISTAD: Built along the Texas/Mexico border, Amistad is a deep, clear, fertile impoundment nurtured primarily by the Rio Grande and Devil’s Rivers. The bass fishing there has a history of seesaw cycles resulting from ebb and flow water levels, and it appears to on the upswing as the result of good rainfall the last couple of years across parts of the Big Bend country.

Habitat-wise, Amistad is flourishing and the bass fishing is steadily improving as a result. In addition to fields of flooded mesquites, huisache, cactus and other forms of terrestrial vegetation, the lake’s hydrilla has returned with a vengeance after all but disappearing after severe drought caused the lake to reach historic lows a few years ago. Local fishing guides tell me the grass can found in water as deep as 30 feet these days.

Amistad hasn’t produced a Top 50 fish since 2005, when Tom Sutherland reeled in a 15.68 pounder on crankbait. It’s due to produce another giant.

Email Matt Williams at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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Texas SALTWATER

by CALIXTO GONZALES :: TF&G Saltwater Editor

Cold Strategy

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HERE’S NOTHING NOVEL IF I were to tell you that wintertime is prime time for big speckled trout.

Countless big yellow-mouths have been pulled out of cold Texas waters during the winter over the years.

Ironically, the biggest of the bunch, Bud Rowland’s state record 15 pounds, 6 ounces was caught on a balmy day in May, 2002. There is no denying that trophy-class speckled trout are the main target of any fisherman who is resolute enough to crawl out of bed early on a cold day and make a run on a lonely Texas bay.

That resolve will be sorely needed. On most trips, big speckled trout are hard to find, hook, and land, even in the most ideal conditions.

The winter angler is facing either a stiff north wind and falling water temperatures, or bluebird skies, a rising barometer, and skittish fish.

The odds are better than normal that you might go back to the boat ramp with nothing to show for your effort but stiff, wrinkled fingers and low morale.

The odds might be more in the trout’s favor, but there are still ways to fool a baseball bat-sized trout into nailing your offering and changing a cold water-haul into a trip to remember. One of the keys may be as simple as what’s beneath your feet.

“The first thing I always look for when I fish in winter is mud,” said Captain Daniel Land of Texas Sportsman Charters (361-876-7610; Txsportsmanscharters.com). “Mud retains heat longer and more efficiently than a sandy bottom, so big trout will hold over mud when it gets too cold to stay in their comfort zone.

Structure of some kind also helps, whether it’s rocks or a depth break, or a grass line helps, too.

Structure provides security and forage when they finally start to feed.”

It’s essentially the same principle that can dictate that darker vehicles will be hotter in the

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1/16-ounce Naughty Hooker jigheads when I fish a plastic,” Land said. “They have a large hook that is effective with large baits such as Brown Lures or a six-inch Down South Lures Shad. Sometimes, a big slow-moving plastic is just what these fish want, and they won’t hit anything else.”

There is no secret to the colors that Land recommends. Dark colors such as Plum Chartreuse work best in murkier water or over mud bottoms. Lighter colors such as Silver/ Pink Hologram in clearer water or on sunny days.

If there has been a stretch of three to five days of milder weather where sunny conditions prevail, then Land will shift his focus from muddier bottoms to sand and grass.

Sand warms up more quickly and as trouts’ metabolisms warm up, they begin to feed more actively. In such a case, the trout become more aggressive, and Land can get fish to attack a faster retrieve.

“Trout move around more in mild weather,” said Land, “They’ll chase down a soft plastic from a longer way away and hit harder.

You’ll also find good trout in the 18- to 22-inch range at the same time. Action picks up when you get a few days of sunshine and warmer temperatures.”

Warm stretches are also a good time to start using topwaters, according to Land. He’ll fish sand near structure with either an Unfair Lures Paul’s Rip-n-Slash or a Spook, Jr. With the sun out and sand being the orders of the day, light-colored topwaters are best. A brisk pace is a good bet with more aggressive fish prowling.

Land warns that anglers need to have a lot of patience when fishing for cold-weather sows. There are days where you will absolutely smoke the fish, and then there will be days where you will grind all day for a single strike.

That strike, however, is one you won’t forget.

summer sun than lighter colors. Dark tones absorb solar radiation, whereas lighter shades reflect that same radiation. Since fish are cold blooded and can’t regulate their temperature internally; they, therefore, rely on external sources of heat, such as that nice warm mud.

Normally, trout tend to be in a neutral or negative feeding mode when holding over mud. Their metabolisms slow to the point that they don’t need to fuel it with protein.

Trout being the opportunistic feeder that they are, they will not turn down an offering literally under their noses. This is the sort of situation that calls for a slo-o-o-w presentation and is perfectly set up for Land’s pet lure.

“When I find a soft, muddy bottom, such as you’ll find in Baffin Bay or the parts of the Laguna Madre,” said Land. “The first bait I use is a Corkie Fat Boy. The big body sinks super slowly and presents a big target for trout to attack.”

Land added that trout are reluctant to exert any precious energy in cold weather, even to feed; therefore they are not likely to target smaller prey. The adage of “big bait, big fish,” applies with winter trout.

According to Land, fishermen have to fish the bait slower than they can imagine. From how he describes the presentation, the retrieve is usually “One Mississippi, Mississippi, Mississippi Two….”and even slower than that at times.

A maddening quality of wintertime trout is that they may try to feed, but not feed. Captain Jimmy Martinez loves recounting a story about fishing for big trout one winter and having a huge trout come up on his Mirrolure MR14 and try to suck it down. The fish would suck at the lure lightly, and all it would do was quiver.

The fish repeated the move over and over, but couldn’t get enough force to inhale the bait.

Eventually the fish moved off and left Martinez a trembling wreck.

Sometimes, according to Captain Daniel Land, trout are so negative they don’t commit to eating. When that happens, soft plastics on light heads—or no heads at all—are the best option to tempt these fish.

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ANUARY 2-15 MARKS THE LATE muzzleloader season for whitetail deer in 90 counties across the state. It gives hunters an option to score on deer that eluded them during the archery only and general season.

“The last muzzleloader season is a great way for hunters to bag the does they passed up while holding out for that trophy buck or maybe get the one that got away,” said TF&G Hunting Editor Lou Marullo.

“Muzzleloader hunting is a big deal in many northern states because of the restrictive gun seasons but it has never

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And Other Late Season Options for Deer taken off at the level I think it should in Texas,” Marullo said. “I am hearing more hunters talk about it; and with two extra weeks at the end, it is a great incentive to get in the game.

There is also a late youth-only season in 213 counties in the North Zone January 2 to 15 and 30 counties in the south zone during the same time period. All legal hunting means and methods are allowed, except in Collin, Dallas, Grayson and Rockwall counties, where lawful means are restricted to lawful archery equipment and crossbows.

Although the New Year is here is not too late to find bucks in the rut.

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PUBLIC DOMAIN PHOTO

According to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) South Texas had the latest rut in the state. Breeding dates ranged from November 9 to February 1 during the three years. In the eastern part of the area, the peak breeding date was December 16, while in the west it was December 24.

The pregnancy rate was 95 percent and there were 1.5 fetuses for each sampled doe.

The majority (90 percent) of the fawns are born by July 19 in the eastern area and by July 25 in the western area.

Conception dates in the Trans-Pecos ranged from as early as November 4 to as late as January 4 during the same three-year study so if you have a lease out near Crockett County or maybe even farther west there is still hope of finding some rutting action.

The peak date of the breeding season was December 8, which is the second latest peak in Texas.

Speaking of the rut, does in estrus could be stirring up bucks right now in virtually any part of the state.

“Within a specific area, habitat conditions not only affect fawn survival, but can affect the timing of breeding,” TPWD reported. “A

Muzzleloader hunting is popular in northern states, but has great growth potential in Texas.

doe in poor condition or a young doe may not breed until late in the season. A doe may be attractive to bucks for about five days, but may be willing to breed for a period of only 24 hours. If the doe is not bred during her first cycle, she will generally come into heat again about 28 days later.”

“In areas where there are few bucks, a doe may not encounter a buck when she is first

receptive and may not be bred until one of her later cycles. A hunter, landowner or biologist who sees the late breeding activity may be convinced that there was a late rut. On the other hand, those who see does attended by bucks in the early part of the season believe there was an early rut. This helps explain the wide variety of opinions on the timing of the rut during a particular year.”They also noted

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that “hunter chronology” has a lot to do with the perceived timing of the rut.

“Traditionally, hunters are more likely to be afield during cool weather. They will usually be out in force with the onset of the first weekend norther during the deer season.

When many observers are spending time in the field it is more likely that breeding activity will be noticed.”

That means there could be some rutting activity on your lease during the first week of January or maybe later in different parts of the state, but most hunters have tagged out or checked out by now.

For those hunting on national forest or large public hunting lands in the eastern third of the state, consider hunting in or as close as you can to the thickest areas during the late season. Deer in this highly pressured part of the state are hunter wary and pine plantations in particular are good areas to find wary deer.

A TPWD survey indicated that 22 percent of all timberland was classified as pine plantation. Most (72 percent) plantation establishment was on forest industry lands. The 1992 survey indicated that approximately 71

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An Uainuint Paiute aiming a rifle in southwestern Utah.

percent of the plantations were less than 20 years old.

That is worth explaining because some of the very best areas in the state are around fresh clear cuts (and up to a few years old) that are used to make way for these pine plantations.

The woods in the region are so different from what they were 100 years ago. The rea-

son you see deer feeding alongside the roads so much is because that’s where a lot of the broadleaf forbs they eat can grow. It requires sunlight for them to grow, and in much of the woods, there is not enough light for that to happen.

As aesthetically unpleasing as they are, there is no denying they produce a lot of the woody browse and allow for broadleaf forbs to grow, which is very important to deer.

Broadleaf forbs are essentially weeds that grow in open areas and are what often give farmers and gardeners a big headache. In fact, most of the time deer are seen in fields feeding, they are eating these forbs, not the grasses. Find a weedy pasture along a pine thicket and you’re likely to find lots of deer.

Consider hunting from the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. timeframe when most hunters are out of the woods. The deer take to these areas late in the season for cover. You might just find them slipping out when they assume hunters are nowhere to be found.

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OUGHLY FIVE YEARS have passed since chronic wasting disease first reared its ugly head on Texas soil. That’s when sample collections and testing of more than two dozen free ranging mule deer in far West Texas turned up a pair of positive CWD cases, putting state wildlife officials on high alert for other deer carrying a disease that they had always hoped would never get here.

The discovery didn’t come as much of a sur-

prise, though. It came just months after New Mexico wildlife officials had notified Texas Parks and Wildlife that CWD had been detected in three New Mexico mulies harvested near the border during the 2011 hunting season.

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Wishful thinkers originally hoped the incident would remain isolated to the Hueco mountain range in the rugged Trans-Pecos, where deer populations are sparse compared with other regions of the state. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way.

Despite the continued testing of thousands of free-ranging deer and captive animals held in breeder pens, and the implementation of surveillance programs aimed at early detection—containment methods that had been ongoing since the CWD threat prompted Texas to close its borders to the importation of deer in the early 2000s—CWD somehow managed to leapfrog nearly 500 miles southeast to a whitetail deer breeding operation in Medina County, where a two-year old deer tested positive for the disease in June 2015.

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Chronic wasting Disease (CWD) is a progressive disease that affects deer, elk and other cervids.

that, left unchecked, CWD can lead to a decline in deer numbers over time.

“It’s an additional mortality factor,” says Clayton Wolf, TPWD Wildlife Division director. “Deer die from coyotes, road kill, hunting, etc… When CWD is in one percent of your population it’s probably not measurable. But the disease prevalence continues to grow through time in populations where it becomes established. We believe there is a good chance that if CWD got imbedded in a wild population, and was left unchecked, that the prevalence would grow through time and we would see increased mortality and lower deer numbers.”

Wolf says it is already happening in some states. He said some of the best studies on white-tailed deer have been done in Wyoming, where prevalence rates as high as 30-40 percent have been documented.

For that reason, TPWD, the Texas Animal Health Commission and other state agencies have always believed that early detection, prevention and education are the best policies when it comes protecting all Texas deer as well as the cash cows that they feed.

“It’s all about protecting the deer, whether they are behind a high fence, in a breeding operation or free ranging out on the landscape,” Wolf said. “Deer hunting in Texas is a more than $2 billion industry, and deer breeding is a segment of that.”

To date, CWD has not been detected in Texas’s free-ranging whitetail deer herd. And

When subsequent testing turned up three additional CWD positives at the Medina County facility, a heightened testing criteria and broadened search area located even more positive cases at other breeding facilities in Medina and Lavaca counties as well as a Medina County ranch release site. To date, 35 CWD positive cases have been documented in Texas, including 26 white-tailed deer linked to breeding facilities and nine free-ranging mule deer, according to TPWD researchers.

CWD: What is it?

CWD is a nasty, neurological disorder that affects deer, elk and other cervids. Progressive but slow-moving in nature, the disease can be spread by animal-to-animal contact or through contact with a contaminated environment. Researchers say an animal may carry CWD for years without indication, but in the latter stages signs may include listlessness, lowering of the head, weight loss, repetitive walking in set patterns, and a lack of responsiveness. The disease isn’t believed to pose a risk to humans or domestic animals.

First recognized 50 years ago in captive mule deer in Colorado, CWD has since been documented in captive and/or free-ranging deer in 23 states as well as Canada. Though opinions vary as to how contagious it is, many scientists agree that CWD is always fatal once contracted and that eradication is next to impossible once the disease becomes well established in a population. It is also believed 34

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guys like Wolf, along with millions of hunters, land managers, landowners, wildlife biologists, outdoors enthusiasts and conservation organizations on the state and national level had just as soon keep it that way.

Challenges Ahead No doubt there are going to be some big time challenges presented along the way, largely because there is no known cure for CWD and live/ post-mortem testing methods used to detect it are not always 100 percent accurate.

Post-mortem testing is usually performed extracting lymph nodes from the lower jaw area of the dead animal, while recentlyapproved live testing is usually done by sampling rectal or tonsil tissue after darting the animal. Experts say the latter usually comes with a price tag of $60-130, depending on how much trouble is involved in process.

Between 2002 and 2012, TPWD claims it tested more than 26,500 wild deer and the deer breeding industry tested more than 7,400 animals. The state last year ramped up its testing efforts, sampling more than 10,000 hunter-harvested whitetail deer and road kills statewide. Meanwhile, Texas’s 1,300 deer breeders tested significantly more, according to Patrick Tarleton, executive director of the Texas Deer Association, an Austin-based organization largely vested in growing the big antlers that drive the state’s 650-million-dollar deer breeding industry.

PHOTOS: TOP, TPWD; BOTTOM RIGHT, ©CANSTOCK

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“The Texas deer breeding industry has proven to be one the most tested industries in the entire country,” Tarleton said. “In fact, the Texas breeding industry tested almost 30,000 deer last year alone—that’s roughly 30 percent of 100,000 animals that are in pens and more than all the other breeders in all the other states combined.”

It’s worth noting that Texas deer breeders operate under somewhat different guidelines than those in other states. According to Wolf, all Texas deer, even those raised in privately owned pens, are considered property of the state. Texas deer breeders are allowed to sell and trade deer among themselves and to the private sector for liberation (release) into wild herds on high fence properties.

In other states, deer that are sold for the purpose of hunting may only be transferred to shooting preserves or enclosures where no wild deer are present, Wolf said.

Not surprisingly, finding common ground with Texas deer breeders on CWD and how to best manage for it has thus far proven to be a challenge unto its own for TPWD. The issue churned up a firestorm of controversy and resistance soon after the first CWD positive turned up at the Medina County whitetail breeding facility.

TPWD moved quickly in response to the finding and implemented a set of “emergency rules” many deer breeders perceived as a heavy handed, overly-restrictive response to an isolated incident that threatened the deer breeding industry. In addition to restricting their ability to move and sell deer, the rules called for more testing and resulted in the depopulation of the breeding stock at two different breeding facilities.

Two deer breeders subsequently filed a lawsuit against TPWD in Travis County District Court, citing that the agency’s action plan violated their rights, and that the plan was developed “largely in secret, in violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act and the Administrative Procedure Act.” The state’s CWD management plan rules have since been amended following a collaborative effort last summer between the TPWD, TAHC and deer breeding community to create a more agreeable set of guidelines while remaining cognizant to the fundamental issues at hand — protecting Texas’s vast hunting heritage, free-ranging and captive deer populations across the state, and the rich economy they support.

Mule deer were the first populations affected in Texas.

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toward helping to determine the prevalence and geographic extent of the disease and to contain it in the areas where it is known to exist.

Wolf pointed out that there are people out there who are promoting the position that there is no harm in having CWD, but that’s not the message that TPWD wants to send.

“You certainly can’t sit back and do nothing,” Wolf said. “We know we’re not going to be able to cure the disease. That’s why we are putting so much emphasis on testing before movement. We are going to have challenges where CWD exists, but we had just as soon not increase the number of challenges if we can help it. There are no guarantees with testing, but it certainly increases the chances of detecting CWD before it gets moved into somebody’s backyard.”

Speaking on behalf of Texas’s 1,300 deer breeders, Tarleton said he does not cast blame on TPWD for its efforts to pinpoint and contain the spread CWD, even though the industry as whole did not agree with the regimen of restrictive rules it was handed to operate by.

However, he thinks the cause could be better served if the state focused more on ramping up its testing to include more wild animals and more was done to educate the hunting public about the disease.

“Make no mistake, the Texas deer breeders did not agree with the rules that were passed, but we have been compliant with them,” Tarleton said. “We’re still complying with them and I think we have proven that the Texas deer breeding industry is a very clean industry. As we get through this, I think it is incumbent on my association, the wildlife community, the outdoor community, TPWD and TAHC to all start doing a better job of educating our communities about CWD. That’s what is important.

“There are people with the mentality because of the rhetoric that has been pushed that CWD is a frightful thing in Texas, but it is not,” Tarleton added. “I hope that doesn’t come off as being unconcerned, because it (CWD) is very real and should be monitored.

But we can’t continue to scare the hunting community any longer. People need to go hunt. They need to go manage deer.”

Further details of CWD rule changes affecting specific artificial deer movement permits are available online at www.tpwd. texas.gov/cwd/. texas.gov/cwd/

Key changes to the rules include: • Establishing a minimum level of postmortem testing in deer breeding facilities at 80 percent.

• Providing an opportunity for all captive deer breeders to “test-up” to Transfer Category 1 (TC1) status through 50 percent ante-mortem testing of their entire herd (a proposed May 15, 2017, testing deadline was eliminated from the rules) and breeders may choose their preferred ante-mortem testing means (rectal, lymph nodes, tonsillar etc.).

• Clarification that the five-year, 80 percent eligible mortality testing requirement to realize TC1 status may be obtained through testing a five-year average of annual mortalities and deer breeders may use a 3:1 ratio to substitute live tests for post-mortem tests to meet required testing thresholds.

• Property owners may request to expand release sites, provided release site requirements apply to the expanded acreage.

• Elimination of testing requirements on Trap, Transfer and Transplant (Triple T) release sites.

The new regulations also include the establishment of CWD management zones in the Trans-Pecos, Panhandle and Medina County areas where the disease has been detected. Hunters who harvest mule deer, white-tailed deer, or elk within the TransPecos and Panhandle CWD Containment and Surveillance Zones are are required to bring their animals to a TPWD check station within 24 hours of harvest. TPWD urges voluntary sampling of hunter harvested deer in the Medina area CWD Surveillance Zone.

Wildlife officials say the ongoing collection of these samples combined with those collected from the state’s nearly three dozen Resource Management Units and Texas deer breeding operations should go a long way

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YOUR GUIDE TO 2017 BOATING AND BOAT SHOWS story by LENNY RUDOW

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HIS IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR

You don’t, of course, want to walk into these shows com-

to see boats, boats and more boats!

pletely unawares. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to

As 2016 becomes history, so do the

Boats Shows for 2017—read on, and you’ll have the inside

2016 model year boats. And if you’re in

scoop before you ever start shopping.

the market for a new boat, 2017 holds

New Boat Trends

some great surprises and great potential.

Last year we told you about the migration towards lower-

New models, new technology, and new designs all come into play, and this year’s boat show season will provide you with

cost boat-motor-trailer packages which were designed to

the opportunity to get your first look at all the possibilities.

be affordable for just about any hard-working American.

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This trend continues and expands for 2017. Look at the new

a perfect example. Or consider the latest offering from Nautic

line-ups from Carolina Skiff, Mako Boats, Robalo, Tracker

Star, the 227 XTS, which has planning pods and an air-assist

Marine, and Xpress, for example, and you’ll see a number of

chine to boost acceleration and handling. Pathfinder provides

$25,000-and-under boat/motor/trailer packages for brand

yet another example with their 2500 Hybrid, a boat with a

new models in the 16’ to 18’ range.

twin-stepped hull that can cruise in the mid 40’s and pushes

In other segments of the industry, technology is marching

60 MPH at top-end. Yes, it’s true that hulls like these require

on. Hull designs in particular are growing ever more complex

a lot of R & D and as a result, they don’t always come cheap.

and advanced. Blue Wave’s latest debut, the RS1, which incor-

But the performance, handling, and maneuverability they net

porates a step in the bottom to boost efficiency and speed, is

is light-years ahead of the hulls designed a few years back.

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down-loaded automatically; and in some cases you can even remotely turn on or off things like lights, pumps, or even air conditioning systems before you even leave your house in the morning.

If technology represents the biggest advancements in today’s highly complex boats, kayaks and their inherent simplicity represent the opposite end of the spectrum.

Yet Kayak anglers will also discover widely expanded options when they visit the boat shows this year. The big news for 2017 from Hobie, the iconic builder of fishing kayaks like the Pro Angler and Outback, is the introduction of reverse to the Mirage Drive (now called Mirage Drive 180). And kayak anglers who enjoy waterfowl hunting have a new option, too, with the introduction of Hobie’s Camo Series. You’ll also find new fishing yak offerings from the likes of Feelfree, Native Watercraft, Ocean Kayak, Old Town, and Wilderness Systems.

Although most of us are most interested in boats used strictly for fishing, hunting, and the like, watersports lovers are also going to find a shocking array of new options on the market. The introduction of Volvo Penta’s Forward Drive, which places a forward-facing pod-like drive unit on a stern drive, has made it possible to turn stern-drive bowriders and runabouts into true wake surfing boats. Another startling new option for those who enjoy watersports is the introduction of jet-powered runabouts that are designed to do double-duty as fishing machines. Yamaha broke new ground last year with the 190 FSH, which is a version of their 19’ jet boat with a deck laid out for fishing. Now Scarab has joined in the action, with their 195 Open Fish. Both of these options have all the jet boat advantages that watersports lovers look for, yet since their topsides are designed for fishing, they represent a new and very attractive option for angling families that have kids who also enjoy watersports.

Boat construction has also benefitted from new tech. While vacuum-assisted fiberglass layup used to be unusual, today it’s quite common. That means fiberglass parts have the ideal resin-to-glass ratio, making them as light as possible while maintaining full strength. Other advancements that are becoming commonplace include the use of Kevlar reinforcing, anti-microbial multi-density foam in seating, Deutsch-style waterproof electrical connections, high-density foam deck and swim platform padding, “Soft Touch” UV-resistant vinyls, and digital switching systems. Yes, you’re right—all of these advancements do again add cost to the price of a boat. And some of today’s boats seem to carry rather eye-popping price tags.

But these same things also increase the value of what you’re buying, and they make today’s boats stronger, lighter, safer, more comfortable, and more fun to run.

Despite all of these advancements, the most revolutionary changes you’ll find on the latest crop of boats has to do with—no surprise here—the modern electronics you find at the helm. All of the major marine electronics manufacturers have been developing MFDs and combination chartplotter/ fishfinders that are evolving towards becoming the “brain” of your boat. These new electronics systems have the ability to control multiple systems ranging from flipping on the lights and livewell, to adjusting the autopilot. Most feature touch-enabled interfaces that mimic those of your smart phone.

But perhaps more importantly, many now have built-in WiFi that allows the different components of your boat to communicate with each other and in some cases, with the outside world. You no longer necessarily need a cable to connect your radar dome to your helm; you can operate your chartplotter, fishfinder, or switching system from a cell phone app; charting updates (including those created with the pings from your own fishfinder and chartplotter) can be up- or HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL BOAT, SPORT AND TRAVEL SHOW January 6-15, 2017 NRG Center AUSTIN BOAT & TRAVEL TRAILER SHOW January 19-22, 2017 Austin Convention Center 38 |

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Outboard Enhancements

On the outboard front, 2017 ushers in many changes. You’ll find that the newest outboards not only have incredible reliability, they also boast advancements in efficiency and ease of operation.

BRP – Evinrude shook up the outboard world when they rolled out their 3.4 liter V-6 G2 two-stroke engines in the 200 to 300 HP range, and this year, they’re expanding that range with a new 2.7 liter version that’s available in 150, 150 HO, 175, and 200 HP models. These new engines utilize the same G2 gear-case and mid-section as their larger siblings, including the integrated hydraulic helix steering and trim systems. The engine’s systems are digital but the 150 can be set up with cable controls for re-power situations.

Evinrude is claiming the new engines get the same 15-percent fuel economy savings the larger G2’s attained, and from what we’ve seen so far, this seems accurate.

HONDA – Honda’s “big” news for 2017 is very, very small—at least as far as horsepower goes. They’ve rolled out all-new 4, 5, and 6 HP 127cc single-cylinder portables.

When we ran them we discovered a 0.4 gallon internal fuel tank that’s good for 40 minutes of full-throttle running time, easy starting thanks to an automatic decompression system, and very low vibrations in the tiller handle because vibration mounts isolate it from the powerhead.

MERCURY – The latest from Mercury is the VesselView Mobile app, now available for iOS and Android. Before you shrug your shoulders and think “oh no, not another useless app,” consider that when linked (via Bluetooth) to a VesselView Mobile Module (which plugs into your engine) you’ll be able to tap into SmartCraft and read everyALL VALLEY BOAT SHOW February 17-19, 2017 New McAllen Convention Center SOUTHWEST INTERNATIONAL IN-WATER BOAT SHOW April 6-9, 2017 Clear Lake

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thing from engine fault codes to oil pressure. Essentially, it eliminates the need for a computer-based interface, allowing you to see everything that in the past only service techs were able to access.

SUZUKI – Suzuki has migrated some important features down into its line, with the DF150AP and DF175AP. Suzuki Precision Control (drive-by-wire throttle and shift) and Selective Rotation (a gear-case that can be programmed to spin in either direction) is now available on these lower-horsepower outboards. During 2016 Suzuki also rolled out a pair of new portables, the DF4A and DF6A. TOHATSU – We haven’t heard anything new for 2017 from this manufacturer, but remember that in the past two years they expanded their range and now have offerings ranging from 2.5 HP all the way up to 250 HP. Mid-range models were also redesigned for 2015, and new 4, 5, and 6 HP models were introduced last year.

YAMAHA – The first V-8 monster out-

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board, the 5.3-liter F350, has gone through so many changes that it’s now been re-named the F350C. Gear-case passages have been redesigned to improve lubrication to the gears and bearings, improved metal treatments have enhanced corrosion resistance, a new ECU monitors time of use in specific RPM bands, and 41 pounds of weight have been shaved off the original version. The 115 SHO has also undergone some improvements, including redesigned camshafts and a re-mapped ECU that takes maximum RPM from 6000 to 6300.

Boat Show Tips: To make the most of your time at the boat show, you need to learn as much as possible—then you’ll be able to make the very best pick when it comes time to sign on the dotted line. Here are a few tips to help ensure you succeed.

1. TAKE PICTURES — lots of pictures— while you’re at the show. Whenever possible, also snap off a shot of the displayed specifications sheet and sticker price. This

will help you keep different models, pricing, and details sorted when you go back through your boat show materials.

2. BEFORE YOU MAKE any decisions about the value of different boats, be sure you’re comparing apples to apples. One manufacturer may call item “A” a standard feature that’s included in the price, while another calls it a cost-adding optional feature. By the time you get all the features you want this can make a huge difference in the final cost of any particular boat, and if you don’t figure out the “real” cost ahead of time, it’s easy to be misled.

3. ALTHOUGH WE BELIEVE you’re bestserved by thoroughly researching all options before you make any final decisions, remember that the dealers are at the show with one thing in mind: selling boats. If you’re willing and able to sign a contract at the show, you may be able to bargain for an unusually good deal.

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T

HE LEAST expensive and most accessible fishing opportunity in Texas lies along the Gulf Coast.

Hundreds of miles of shoreline is available to anglers from Sabine Pass to Port Isabel. Despite the cool conditions some of the best fishing is actually during winter. You won’t find many speckled trout, Spanish mackerel and sharks that thrill anglers during the summer period, but there are plenty of fun to catch and tasty options out there.

Think of this article as a Texas Winter Surf 101 of sorts. It is about how and where to score on super fishing during the cool (and occasionally) cold days of the Texas winter.

REPORT: NEWS 44u TF&G OF THE NATION Reported by TF&G Staff

HOT 44 u TEXAS SHOTS Trophy Photos from TF&G Readers

DEPT. OF 46u TEXAS DEFENSE

by Stan Skinner and Dustin Ellermann

48 u TEXAS DEPT. OF CONSERVATION

by Will Leschper and Andi Cooper

50 u TEXAS COASTAL FORECAST

Species GULF KINGFISH (Whiting): According to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, this species lives in small schools in the surf along the Texas coast.

“Young kingfish sometimes move into the shallows in coastal bays. Like their relatives the southern kingfish, Gulf kingfish feed on bottom-dwelling animals such as worms, clams and other shellfish.”

Winter brings lots of “whiting” to beachfronts, and the beautiful thing about catching them is simplicity. A dead shrimp or small chunk of cut bait fished on the bottom is usually enough to get their attention..

by Eddie Hernandez, Mike Holmes, Mike Price, Chris Martin, Mac Gable and Cal Gonzales

58 u TEXAS FISHING HOTSPOTS

by Tom Behrens, Dustin Warncke and Dean Heffner

68 u SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK Tides and SoLunar Data

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Upper Coast

ATLANTIC CROAKER: These are about 12 inches long and weigh 1/2 to 2 pounds on average according to TPWD. Distinguishing characteristics include three to five pairs of small barbels or “whiskers” on their chins to help them feel for food on the sea floor; a lateral line that extends to the tip of its caudal (tail) fin; inferior mouth (located to the bottom of the head facing the ground), and brown vertical stripes on its sides.

Adults are silver with a pinkish cast, while young are silvery and iridescent. Older fish are brassy in color with vertical brown streaks formed by spots on their scales.”

Croakers are also simple to catch and take to dead shrimp quickly. When they are abundant in the surf, croakers will gladly take scented lures like Gulp! and also hit small spoons and spinnerbaits, especially if you find some of the bigger ones.

with the shell taken off and large dead shrimp are great baits to score on these bruisers.

Odd Baits for Winter Shrimp and cut bait are naturals to fish during winter but the following are some that can score on the above species SEA LICE: These strange looking creatures are marine parasites that feed on the mucus, skin and blood of host fish. They look like a crab crossed with something from the movie Alien. They make great bait for black drum, especially the really big ones.

A number of bait camps along the coast carry these disgusting looking creatures.

Besides drum, they are effective for croaker and whiting at times.

SAND SEATROUT (Sand Trout): This species is silvery with a pinkish color on the upper sides according to TPWD. Their large mouths are orange on the inside and have one or two rounded teeth at the front of the upper jaw. Although they are common in deeper bays, channels and the shallow Gulf, sand seatrout live nowhere else.

Dead shrimp and cut bait are the way to go for bait.

FIDDLER CRABS: These little crabs with one giant pincher and another small one are perhaps the best bait for sheepshead. They are hard to take off a hook and sheepsheads will seemingly take them before anything else.

Some folks catch fiddler crabs in dip nets, and others set traps. They are not so easy to catch, but if it’s sheepshead you want, fiddlers are the golden ticket. Black drums have a fondness for them too.

SILVER SEATROUT (Gulf Trout): TPWD describes silver seatrout as bright silver all over with no stripes, bars or other marks. The only place you’re likely to find color on these fish is inside their mouths, which are orange. They live mostly in the Gulf where they feed on fish and shellfish, but they do come into bays in the winter. They go for the same baits as their close cousins the sand trout.

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Midcoast Mustang Island State Park LOCATION: SH 361 Port Aransas JFK Causeway LOCATION: At Humble Channel in Corpus Christi Jetty Park LOCATION: End of FM 2031, Matagorda Highway 188 LOCATION: At Port Bay in Rockport Foley Reserve Park LOCATION: East Bayshore/Palacios

Lower Coast South Padre Island LOCATION: North end of Park Road 100 CR 1145 South Location: Kingsville Park Road 100 Bay Access 1 Location: Across from Edwin King Atwood Park, South Padre Island

Family Fun

Hotspots The following are some great locations for the above species. Most of them are on the beach, but a few are nearby. They are great spots to intercept the top winter species as they trade from beach to bay.

BLACK DRUM (Bull Drum): There is no mistaking these giants. Oversized black drums move into the surf beginning in early winter with more and more fish coming in toward the spring spawning period. Crab 42

Sea Rim State Park LOCATION: Off of Highway 87 past Sabine Pass Rollover Pass LOCATION: Highway 87 between High Island and Port Bolivar Bolivar Pocket LOCATION: Off Highway 87 at jetties

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On the warmer days of winter, temperatures are extremely comfortable on our beaches.

Although wading into the water is not an option, there is plenty of space for kids to roam free, fly kites and look for seashells.

The best part is you might be alone. Very few use the surf during winter so that means you can spend quality family time in solitude.

This type of fishing is not rocket science, but it sure is fun. We defy anyone to find anything that tastes better than freshly caught whiting or sand trout.

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The NATIONAL

Changing Lives, One Fish at a Time

News of TEXAS

A wounded soldier who had several operations to his legs over a period of years and walks with a cane drops his cane and walks down the boat ramp with his fishing pole.

How could this all happen through Texas fishing?

Cross Water Outfitters is a fishing ministry that hosts events which focus on soldiers from Fort Hood and their families.

Participating groups include Warriors in Transition Brigade, CWO members and their friends and family, and Friends and Neighbors.

These events include hosting college students from various countries and faiths through a church sponsor and Bridges International, another Christian ministry.

CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF WALKING into a church and being greeted by a smiling and caring young pastor’s assistant who two years ago was in prison for threatening his family with a weapon?

Imagine a feuding family where the teenagers will not talk to the woman whom their Dad just married because they miss their Mom. Then they come to a fishing event for a weekend of fun. Three days later they are laughing and hugging together as a family.

Events like these result in more people learning to fish in Texas, families reuniting through fishing and boating recreation, spiritual renewing through the outdoors, and so much more. After all, where else but in Texas will you find a Christian jug fishing ministry?

Cross Water Outfitters started in Central Texas as a fishing ministry using a basic sporting tradition, jug fishing for catfish.

This fishing ministry has grown from its two founders, Brian Kneriem and Terry Tubbs, and their two boats to between four and five large events a year with multiple boats, boat captains, deckhands, a cook team, and other volunteers.

The lakes most commonly fished by CWO

BASS

AXIS

Bastrop

Winnie

Krystle Aultman caught and released these two bass, back to back, while fishing in the Bastrop area. They put up a good fight, but she brought them both in, using natural bait. Krystie’s photo won the Freshwater Category in our most recent TEXAS HOT SHOTS contest at FishGame.com

Madison Fulghum shows off her first deer, an axis with a 31-inch spread. She was hunting at the Cavazos Ranch at Winnie, and made the shot at 75 yards with a 7mm-08. Madison’s photo won the Hunting Category in our HOT SHOTS contest.

Visit FishGame.com to upload your own TEXAS HOT SHOTS and Vote for our next Winners 44

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as Mud Cat flagging jugs (www.mudcatflaggingjugs.com).

This organization is self-funded and always welcomes donations through its parent organization, Hope for the Hungry. For more information on how you can help support this organization or even serve and one of their many events, visit www.crosswateroutfitters.com.

Two CWO event attendees hold a large blue catfish caught on jug lines on a Lake Conroe Friends & Neighbors event.

are Lake Belton, Lake Conroe, and Lake Buchannan and the organization’s main mission is to share the simple Gospel message

COBIA Galveston Luke Bogar with a 40 pound Cobia caught 20 miles rigs off Galveston on a flat line using a whole Spanish sardine for bait.

Luke’s photo won Saltwater Category in our the TEXAS HOT SHOTS contest.

through the simplicity of jug fishing and have a lot of fun doing both. This organization keeps expanding year after year as new members join to support its growth.

The impact that Cross Water Outfitters events have had on the attendees that come to these events is profound. Many of the military veterans who have come to the events are very guarded and hardened from their experiences overseas. However, by the end of the weekend, they are laughing and having fun with their fishing captain and deckhand as well other CWO members.

Fishing can be therapeutic after all. There is magic about it. The fellowship opportunities that ministry events like these offer is incredible.

When the weather is nice, CWO members put together a bonfire and sponsor smores for the families of the soldiers at the Belton Lake events. At these same events, the women of the soldiers’ families are invited to a seminar about how to better relate to their male counterparts. This brings families together in many different ways.

At its first event on Lake Buchanan for college students from different faiths, CWO served over 100 students from 32 different countries. There were many fishing opportunities for catfish, white bass, and stripers with traditional rod and reel fishing as well T E X A S

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TEXAS Dept. of

:: Self Defense :: Tactical :: Training Tips

by DUSTIN ELLERMANN and STAN SKINNER

:: Gear

Weatherby Accumark

yards to the two bushes, 300 even, to the buck itself. The grassy terrain offered no cover for a closer approach, so I set up my Caldwell shooting bag and settled behind my rifle to take the shot.

The rifle was a Weatherby Mark V AccuMark chambered for Weatherby’s newest cartridge, the 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum.

Newest cartridge? That needs some

I

COULD SEE THE FORKHORN muley’s head and antlers in the gap between a pair of flowering bushes. He was bedded down, the rest of his body stretched out flat behind the shrubbery. I probably would never have seen the buck without the sharp eyes of my hunting buddy, Dave Mattausch.

Though bedded, the buck remained alert.

Every few seconds he raised his head to look around nervously before laying his head back down.

This was the last day of the season, so I wasn’t looking for a trophy. It was time to put meat in the freezer. (Shhh! Don’t tell anyone, this hunt was not in Texas.)

I watched the buck through my binocular for a while, then ranged the distance with my Bushnell Yardage Pro 1500 laser rangefinder—299

This forkhorn mule deer fell to a 127- grain 6.5 mm Barnes LRX bullet from the author’s 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum.

Long Ranging

it momentarily or constantly ranges anything that you aim at. It does not calculate ballistics information, so that part is still up to the shooter. The Radius screen easily rotates to any 90-degree angle allowing the user to mount it at any needed angle on their rifle. You power on the device by either holding down the button on the device itself or by the included wired remote that you man mount close enough

ACCURATE RANGING IS VITAL when shooting at long range. Laser rangefinders make it easy to know your target’s distance, but they aren’t always the quickest to use if you have a fast moving, sudden appearing, or multiple targets. The new SilencerCo Radius changes all this with a rifle-mounted rangefinder.

The Radius mounts on any rifle’s picatinny rail. With a quick zeroing process,

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explanation because Roy Weatherby experimented with a 6.5mm cartridge in the 1950s, but decided not to standardize it at the time.

Then, in the 1960s LTC Paul Wright and gunsmith Alex Hoyer necked down the .300 Weatherby Magnum to 6.5 mm to create the 6.5 Weatherby Wright Hoyer. When the Pennsylvania 1,000 Yard Benchrest Club started hosting 1,000 yard benchrest matches in 1967, the 6.5 WWH won two of these first four contests in the hands of two different shooters.

Even today, many regard the 6.5 WWH as the best long-range hunting cartridge in existence. Now, in 2016, with the benefit of today’s high ballistic coefficient bullets and advanced propellants, Weatherby Inc. has introduced the 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum as the fastest production 6.5mm cartridge available.

And FAST it is. Factory numbers claim 3,531 feet per second with a 127grain Barnes LRX bullet. This bullet has a long sloping ogive with a polymer tip and a slightly longer boattail. This design gives the LRX very low drag properties. The polymer tip also helps start controlled opening of the X-Bullet’s

to your shooting hand. Double tapping the same switch activates the constant ranging function giving you a reading every second while a single tap will take a single reading.

The Radius includes a visible laser in order to be able to easily zero the ranging laser to your aiming reticle on your rifle’s optic without any need to fire a shot. This can be done from 20 to 100 yards. You just match the Radius’s visible laser to the offset of your optic and barrel. For instance, since I mounted my Radius at 3 o’clock on my LaRue OBR, I matched the laser to read three inches at 4:30 from my center reticle at 100 yards.

SilencerCo includes a grid target and reflective tape to make this easy, but at

PHOTO THIS PAGE: STAN SKINNER; PHOTO OPPOSITE PAGE: DUSTIN ELLERMAN

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four “petals,” which, the factory says will open properly at velocities as low as 1,600 fps.

When I took my 6.5-300 to the range to sight-in for my deer hunt, I set up my trusty Oehler Model 35P chronograph and was mildly (and pleasantly) surprised to see it record 3,589 fps with Weatherby factory loads.

The Weatherby shot comfortably inside an inch at 100 yards with a cold barrel, so I zeroed it two inches high and headed to the house.

Once home I booted up my desktop and Oehler Ballistics Explorer. I entered the ballistic coefficient, muzzle velocity, altitude and expected meteorological data. Sighted two inches high at 100 yards, my zero range was about 290 yards, with a mid-range trajectory of about 2 5/8 inches. It would be a bit under a half-inch low at 300 yards and a bit more than seven inches low at 400 yards. That, my friends, is pretty doggone flat!

I cranked up the Bushnell 4200 Elite 4-16x riflescope to a full 16 power, which brought the buck’s head into sharp relief. Although the bush obscured his neck, I had a good idea where to hold for a neck shot. The tiny flowering stems offered no real resistance, so I didn’t anticipate any bullet deflection.

With Dave spotting through his 15x Zeiss binocular, I pressed the butt firmly into my shoulder and assumed a proper cheek weld.

Placing the Multi-X reticle about six inches right of the buck’s ear and where I estimated the center of his neck to be, I pressed the trigger.

At the crack of the shot, the buck simply

the same time, I found it easy enough just to just estimate the distance with my mil reticle. The red visible laser is not to be used as an aiming device. It also includes a threaded blocking piece in order to comply with Texas hunting regulations.

In addition to streamlining the ranging process, the Radius also provides a more stable ranging experience when coupled with a rifle. I brought along an older Nikon handheld rangefinder to confirm accurate readings and I found my handheld device to be shaky and more difficult to use than just pointing my rifle at intended targets.

The Radius also displays secondary readings in smaller numbers to allow you to feel more confident in your readings. For

a non-reflective target. One day at dusk I consistently ranged a treeline at 1,300 yards.

The Radius streamlines long range shooting because it combines ranging with aiming. You could easily engage multiple targets in a fast-moving competition or use it at night on a thermal hog hunt where you lose all depth perception. Since setup is so easy it’s not a problem to move it to other rifles in just a few minutes.

The Radius retails for $999, and you can find a dealer and more information at www.beyondhuman.com.

The SilencerCo Radius mounted at the 3 o’clock position on the LaRue OBR.

instance if you were ranging a smaller and farther target a bit closer to you with a large reflective background you might actually need to use the secondary reading if you think it’s the correct range.

Although the Radius will add a bit of heft to your rifle at 18 ounces, it boasts an impressive ranging capability of one mile on a reflective target and 1,000 yards on T E X A S

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what faster than a .30-30 bullet at the muzzle.

If you harbor thoughts of shooting a deer at 1,000 yards—forget it! Despite the fact that the 6.5-300 still has more than 1,800 fps velocity at 1,000 yards and sufficient remaining energy to kill a deer, the bullet has dropped more than 14 feet (assuming you use the same zero I used).

A rifle capable of one inch groups at 100 yards theoretically will shoot 10-inch groups at 1,000 yards. That is roughly the size of the vital area on most-deer sized game.

But wait—it ain’t that easy. Shot-to-shot variations in muzzle velocity can add several inches to vertical dispersion, and a barely perceptible five mph wind can add 2 1/2 feet of horizontal dispersion. These variables and others can increase the size of your 1,000 yard shot group to more than twice the diameter of a basketball hoop.

So, why do you need a 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum? There are three reasons, actually.

1 – It shoots nearly laser flat to 400 yards with deadly effect—Holdover?

Fuggedaboudit!

2 – The new, improved Weatherby Mark V Accumark is second to none as an accurate, dependable production hunting rifle.

3 – You can’t own an X-15 rocket airplane. You can’t date the current Miss America (Your wife would kill you). But you CAN own a rifle chambered for the fastest 6.5mm production cartridge on the planet.

Yeah!

—by Stan Skinner

rolled over. A hind leg came into sight, kicked once and was still. The 6.5-300 had done the job perfectly.

When we recovered the deer, we found an entrance wound that was almost hidden in the neck fur. The exit wound, however, was almost three inches in diameter. The bullet obviously had hit the spine and carried large vertebra fragments with it as it emerged from the opposite side of the neck.

Many hunters favor a neck shot because it usually anchors a buck in its tracks, while limiting meat damage to the less desirable neck roasts. However, I usually avoid it because a standing deer’s neck is rarely completely still, and it is a relatively small target. This time, the buck’s neck was laid out without moving for the most part—a relatively easy shot.

I took this buck at 300 yards, but the 6.5-300 Wby Mag is capable of kills at much greater distances. However, even with a potent chambering such as this, matters get difficult at a rapid rate. Although, the Barnes LRX bullet drops only a bit over seven inches at 400 yards, it is nearly three feet low by the time it reaches 600 yards.

At that range, the 6.5-300’s bullet is traveling at better than 2,400 fps, which is some-

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TEXAS Dept. of :: Edited by WILL LESCHPER

Man-Made Freshwater Havens

as a result of heavy rainfall. The state’s early history is littered with accounts of devastating floods, particularly along the Brazos River and Colorado River. As a result, in the early and middle portions of the 20th Century, state officials and conservation managers began constructing dams along major rivers to create flood control reservoirs that would alleviate floodwater damage and loss of life.

Thanks to that effort, we today have plenty of great fishing holes not far from major urban centers. In addition, those bodies of water have been greatly impacted by another manmade addition—regular fish stockings of multiple species.

The crown jewel of the hatchery and stocking efforts is the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s largemouth bass program, designed to enhance opportunities in both quantity and quality for our state’s number one freshwater angling target.

Texas’s bass fishing success rests almost solely on the efforts of fisheries biologists, who in the early 1970s began producing and stocking Florida largemouth fingerlings.

T

EXANS ARE BLESSED WHEN it comes to freshwater angling opportunities.

We’ve got hundreds of public lakes and reservoirs that are second to none for bass, catfish and a host of other species.

However, did you know that almost none of those fishing locales would be what they are today without human intervention? In fact, the only natural lake in the Lone Star State is Caddo in East Texas.

That’s correct, all these hot spots were manmade creations, most of them crafted in response to the occasional massive floods that arise from Texas’s normally tranquil rivers

Conservation and Energy Companies Join Forces DUCKS UNLIMITED AND PHILLIPS 66 join forces for coastal restoration Fast Facts: • Phillips 66 and Ducks Unlimited are working together to restore coastal wetlands in Texas.

• With their latest gift of $75,000, Phillips 66 continues an annual commitment to conservation they started in 2013.

• Phillips 66 understands the same coastal wetlands that millions of migratory birds depend on each year, also provide protection for the energy industry’s infrastructure.

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Ducks Unlimited and energy manufacturing and logistics company Phillips 66 reviewed the fruits of their combined coastal restoration efforts during a recent project tour. Phillips 66 also presented DU with $75,000 to continue restoring wetlands on public lands along the Texas Gulf Coast.

“Phillips 66 is truly committed to corporate responsibility,” DU Director of Development Matt Bunn said. “They have supported our restoration efforts in Texas for several years, providing important habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife and outdoor |

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Those fledgling efforts have amped up into mass production and TPWD annually stocks roughly 40 million fry and fingerlings of a variety of species across the state. That figure includes millions of Florida largemouths as the big bass craze has only continued to expand.

TPWD also has previously stocked ShareLunker offspring that were developed through the selective breeding program at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens.

Those fish are the direct descendants of fish weighing 13 pounds or more, helping to spread good genetics that biologists ultimately hope will lead to the next state record.

The new record fish would need to eclipse the previous standard of 18.18 pounds set in 1992. That fish was caught on a live minnow by a crappie angler during the month of January.

Another great bass option deployed by TPWD are stripers and hybrid stripers, both of which do exceptionally well in many bodies of water that also hold white bass. Stripers and hybrids—a cross between a striper and a

recreational opportunities for their employees and millions of others who visit these areas.”

Members of DU’s development and conservation staffs, along with Phillips 66 Director of Philanthropy and Community Engagement Claudia Kreisle and Supervisor of Philanthropy and Community Relations Ed Thayer, toured the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge, examined shoreline protecting rock breakwaters and discussed potential projects for future restoration efforts.

“At Phillips 66, we understand the same coastal wetlands millions of migratory birds depend on each year provide protection for the energy industry’s infrastructure, produce much of the nation’s seafood and give people from all over the opportunity to enjoy some time outdoors with their families and friends,” Kreisle said.

PHOTOS: ABOVE, ©CANSTOCK; BELOW, DUCKS UNLIMITED

1/3/17 3:14 PM

Caddo is the only natural lake in Texas.

white bass—can be caught using a variety of lure and live bait techniques. Theywill school up during peak fishing times, making them a great target for youth anglers.

Among the other highlights of the annual stocking efforts by TPWD is the addition of rainbow trout in the winter and channel catfish in the spring to Neighborhood Fishing Lakes. These are bodies of water near urban

result, direct spending on the pursuit goes directly back into habitat restoration and conservation protections.

Next time you head to your local fishing hole, just remember that your angling efforts help support the thriving economy that is freshwater fishing in Texas.

Information: tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/ fish/management.

areas set up as a great introduction to young anglers.

Texas’s hatchery program is supported by the Sport Fish Restoration Program, which is a partnership among anglers, boaters, the fishing and boating industry, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and TPWD. The program is supported by taxes on fishing equipment, electric motors, sonar and boat fuel. As a

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Phillips 66 has contributed to waterfowl restoration efforts since 2013.

Email Will Leschper at WillLeschperOutdoors@gmail.com

66 is helping DU ensure that up to 15 million waterfowl will find a place to stay each winter.

Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 13.6 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org.

The Gulf Coast wetlands of Texas and Louisiana comprise the continent’s most significant waterfowl wintering grounds and are

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—by Andi Cooper

a level one priority for Ducks Unlimited’s wetland conservation work. Through their support of the Gulf Coast Initiative, Phillips F I S H

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Coastal Focus: SABINE :: by Capt.

EDDIE HERNANDEZ

Getting 2017 Started

With the exception of some pretty major run-off from nearby flooding in the spring we have been blessed to be able to fish seasonal patterns basically year-round. The first seasonal pattern of the New Year is upon us now as we attempt to coax speckled trout into eating an artificial lure while water temperatures are plummeting close to their lowest of the year.

It is not always an easy task, and there are those who don’t think it’s worth even making an attempt. For whatever reason, some people write off fishing in January and are missing out on some of the best fishing opportunities that Sabine Lake has to offer.

The true diehards know that winter fishing has the potential to produce serious trophy trout. I think, except for these few, most people would be surprised by the numbers of solid trout that the Sabine ecosystem yields each January.

Fishing for wall hanger trout will always be a common occurrence up and down the Texas coast in January. The idea of consistently catching nice stringers of trout this

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ANUARY 2017 HAS ARRIVED. As we greet it with a nice Southeast Texas style welcome, we think about our goals, expectations and hopes for the next twelve months.

Obviously, here on Sabine Lake those include, but are not limited to, stringers and stringers and stringers of speckled trout, redfish and flounder as well as an assortment of other line stretching, rod-bending species.

2017 should be a very exciting and productive year barring any major freezes, hurricanes, floods or other natural disasters.

Fortunately, the upper Texas coast has escaped virtually unscathed in recent years.

month, however, does not enter a lot of people’s minds simply because they don’t think it is possible.

The truth is, it can and does happen quite often. It is January, and that means you may have to work a little harder to locate the fish, but when you find yourself in the right place at the right time the results can be phenomenal.

The overall quantity of the fish we catch this month is what sets January apart from typical summer time schoolies. When we locate schools of trout in January they are usually very solid fish so we don’t have to weed through a bunch of dinks to get to the no doubters.

Catching a nice mess of fish up to 23 inches is pretty common on lots of days. The redfish bite can also be serious this month, especially in the bayous with a lot of them being in the mid- to upper end of the slot.

Locating bait can be difficult this time of year, but when you do you definitely want to work that area over real good. More often than not, when you find the bait, you should be on the fish. Try not to let the cold January temperatures keep you from stringing up some nice fish this year.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION: Intracoastal Canal (Hwy 87, Sabine Pass) SPECIES: Redfish, croaker, black drum BAITS/LURES: Cut bait, squid, fresh dead shrimp BEST TIMES: All day

Email Eddie Hernandez at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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Coastal Focus: GALVESTON :: by Capt.

MIKE HOLMES

New Year Excitement

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ANUARY STARTS US OVER on a new calendar, but it doesn’t have to be a blank one.

Outdoorsmen are always planning ahead, even when they don’t realize it.

Although the first month of a New Year does not always bode well for fishing weather, it does bring a time to start getting in gear—seriously—for the season ahead.

One of the best “tools” to use for laying out your fishing season is to attend the annual Houston Boat, Sport, And Travel Show.

I’ve attended many, many Boat Shows—and “worked” booths in more than a few explaining new products and techniques (even selling a few of my books!).

This event has been an important part of my life for a long time. New offerings from manufacturers of boats and power systems will normally be shown here soon after their release, and the makers of fishing tackle depend on “The Show” to introduce their innovations.

New products from other walks of life are also usually present, and factory representatives are on hand to give a good reason why the improvements really ARE improvements. In the past I have met not just sales guys, but the owners of companies like Grady-White Boats, and the national sales manager for Bertram Yachts.

The outboard engine segment of the industry is in a constant state of re-invention, and those of use who remember some of the earlier outboards and their limitations are amazed at the modern offerings. In recent years, much the same can be said of marine diesel power, with lighter, stronger, and more “user friendly” diesel engines making a big push for the boater’s hard-earned dollars.

Fishing tackle is getting better and better, with new designs and materials offered in reels, rods, and lines that make our gear work better

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search. Want a bigger or more efficient fish box/cooler? Ditto.

In the market for a good “pre-owned” boat?

Many brokers have extensive lists and will gladly set up viewings and/or rides. Fishing clothes, fishing hats, fishing knives, fishing lures, fishing guides—all will be present.

Reps from marinas in and beyond our immediate area will be on hand to explain what their areas can offer you. Lodges will sell you a trip. Marinas will rent you a slip. Some folks will build you a new dock.

In the past I have written columns poking fun at the Boat Show experience. I still get a bemused chuckle when I see folks who actually paid to get in stand around and watch some guy demonstrate a product to clean eyeglasses.

A purchase I made one year that was a little off the usual boat show offerings was a sign boasting “Patrolled by the Catahoula Security CompanyMy wife and I have raised Louisiana Catahoula dogs for many years, so I HAD to have this one and the companion sign, which had a drawing of a healthy Catahoula with

and longer. The latest “heavy” tackle seems fly-weight compared to the Penn Senators and broom-stick solid fiberglass rods of years back.

Yet the new tackle is actually stronger and will undoubtedly last much longer.

I used to “build” all my own rods—and some for other folks as well. The components available now leave me shaking my head in wonder.

Because “the industry” marketers are ingenious at their craft, no segment of boating is passed over, with as many options available to kayakers as to pleasure cruisers. With all the new things to see, and all the new “players” to show them, one of the big satisfactions of attending these shows, for me, is seeing and visiting with all the long-time participants.

Some guys will have changed employers, others have made a career—a life, really—with the same company. The vast store of boating and fishing knowledge you’ll find strolling the aisles of the Boat Show is really what makes the cost of admission cheap, indeed.

Need new navigational and fish-finding electronics? This is the place to begin your

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1/3/17 3:15 PM

Coastal Focus: MATAGORDA :: by Contributing Editor MIKE PRICE

New Kayak Service

fishing guides for paddle craft.

Christy recommends that people who have never been kayaking, but would like to become kayak anglers, begin by taking their Quick Start class. In the class the new kayaker will learn proper form and technique, which will give him or her the ability to safely cover long distances and paddle in various conditions.

The class costs $75 and kayak rental for the class is $35.

When you are comfortable with paddling, it is time to take up kayak fishing. The best way to do this is to book a guided trip with Clay and Christy. Christy suggests that you use their rods, reels, and tackle when you go on your guided kayak fishing trip because they provide the proper equipment, and rig it correctly.

They can also offer advice about what fishing equipment to buy. They do not sell fishing equipment, but do sell fishing shirts and t-shirts, bug spray, and sun screen. Fishing equipment, kayak, life jacket, paddle, and anchor system are included on a guided trip.

An all-day guided kayak fishing trip costs $350 for two people and two additional people can

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ATAGORDA HAS LONG been known for great kayak fishing, and now it has a business that offers kayak fishing rental, instruction, and guide service.

Matagorda Adventure Company started in March 2016 with new Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 kayaks, Hobie Mirage Drive kayaks, life jackets, Warner paddles, dry bags, and trolley anchor systems to rent. Kayak fishing enthusiasts.

Clay and Christy Bishop own and manage Matagorda Adventure Company. They are certified by The American Red Cross in Wilderness First Aid and CPR They are Level 3 Sit on Top Coastal Kayak Instructors with the American Canoe Association. In addition, they are licensed by Texas Parks & Wildlife as

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come for $50 each (maximum of four people).

Even though Clay and Christy have only been offering kayak fishing services in Matagorda for a little less than a year, they have satisfied customers returning and using their services. Their Facebook, Yelp, and Trip Advisor pages all have five star ratings.

For the kayak angler who does not own or want to own a kayak, Matagorda Adventure Company will deliver your kayak and accessories to the location and time of your choice and pick them up when you are finished.

The rental fee is $40 for a Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 kayak for a half day, or $55 for a full day or $55 for a half day and $70 for a full day for a Hobie Mirage pedal drive kayak. If you rent a house and stay in Matagorda for several days, Clay and Christy will deliver kayaks to the house and extend a discount for multiple day rentals.

The Matagorda Adventure Company web site is: www.matagordaadventures.com. The website is very thorough, showing paddling trails including GPS coordinates, photos, videos, explanations of classes, rentals, guiding services, and other useful kayak fishing information.

In the month of January Clay and Christy suggest kayak fishing at Three Mile Lake, or Parker’s Cut when the tide is moving.

One of my favorite kayak fishing memories took place in Parker’s cut in the winter. It was on a foggy day, and the tide was moving in. The water was very clear and 62°F. As I approached a bayou that was about 20 feet wide, I saw splashes, swirls, redfish tails, and little shrimp jumping. I cast a gold spoon beyond the activity, brought it back quickly, and kept my rod tip high to make the spoon run in the shallow water without getting hung up on weeds or oysters.

The swirling spoon went past the redfish and the fight was on. Then it repeated two more times. Two of the reds were 23 inches and one was 24 inches.

My wife and I paddled Three Mile Lake one January when the wind was blowing strong from the north and the water temperature was

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in the 50s. We found lots of flounders, albeit little flounders. We had to work our Norton Sand Eel soft plastic lures very slowly over the bottom. Nearly every cast we got a bite or hooked up. It was fun. We put all but one back because they were undersized. The larger males and the mature females go offshore in the winter, so we had found where the juvenile flounders were on that January day.

If you are an experienced kayak angler, have a look at the kayak fishing launch spots shown on Matagorda Adventure Company’s website. You will find some fishing spots that will intrigue you. If you are a beginner, take advantage of the services that Clay and Christy offer to help you enjoy your kayak fishing experience even more.

THE BANK BITE THREE MILE LAKE is also called Spring Lake.

It used to be three miles from the vehicle entrance to the beach near the Matagorda jetties, but now the entrance has changed, and it is 1.2 miles east of the entrance to the beach. Don’t even try to get back there without a four wheel drive vehicle. You

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the warning, “I make it to the fence in 2.8 seconds—CAN YOU?” Never saw this stuff anywhere but the Boat Show, and never saw it there again, either.

THE BANK BITE LOCATION—Except on the occasional warm January day, deeper water is still the place to fish.

Channels in marinas, between jetties, and those running through natural passes and river mouths allow bank walkers to cast to fairly deep water.

can see an aerial photo of this spot on Matagorda Adventure Company’s website. You will find that one lake goes south, another southwest, and a third is on the west side and goes south into East Matagorda Bay. Bank anglers as well as kayak anglers will find this a good place to fish in January

SPECIES—Might include redfish, speckled trout, flounder, croaker — even an occasional pompano.

BAIT—Natural baits with a natural scent to them are more effective in cold water, but fish-imitating plugs or spoons worked very slowly near the bottom can produce good catches in the right spots.

BEST TIME—Night fishing can be cold work, but often pays off in spectacular catches of trout under lights rigged from boat or shore based generators. The more or less constant lights of docks and piers are genuine fish attractors.

Email Mike Holmes at ContactUs@fishgame.com because the water is a foot or two deeper. Therefore it’s a little warmer than most of East Matagorda Bay, and that attracts fish.

Email Mike Price at ContactUs@fishgame.com

1/3/17 3:15 PM

Coastal Focus: MID COAST :: by Capt.

CHRIS MARTIN

Cold Water Trout

characteristic I like to experiment with whenever the water temperature drops, and that is what I refer to as “potholes.”

These are bare, open depressions you can generally find amid grassy shorelines and flats. The potholes can contain a bottom comprised of mud or sand, or a mixture of both maybe no more than about five or six feet wide and not much deeper than about two or three feet, surrounded with grass and vegetation on all sides. Most of the large trout are female that love to use the grassy edges of these potholes for camouflage wait to ambush the next unsuspecting baitfish that happens to venture over the pothole.

So, if it is big sow trout you are seeking this month, make it a point to try to locate an area containing mullet activity along with a large number of potholes.

The presentation of your bait, more than anything else, is going to be the key ingredient for fish to eat right now. Everything you do must look as natural as you can, so when you are casting your artificial bait to the potholes, it is extra important that try to be “spot-on” whenever possible.

Cast to one of the edges then bounce or skip the jig out into the openness of the hole in a very natural rhythm. I like the tails of my baits to flutter as much as they can, so I like using a sixteenth ounce jig head because the lighter weight allows my bait to settle back to the bottom slower than if I were to use an eighth or quarter ounce head.

The bait settling back to the bottom slowly means its tail is also allowed to flutter that much longer. I believe this makes for a more overall natural presentation of the bait. This is what I have thrown for many years and is what I have become confident in using.

Everyone has their own ways of doing things, so you may wish to practice with different riggings before forming your own opinion as to what works best for you.

The general color of choice during the colder months of the year is “dark.” There are fewer hours of daylight each day during the winter, and the sun shines at minimal angles as compared to the summer months. Darker

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HE BAY OPTIONS FOR THE Port O’Connor and Seadrift area include Matagorda Bay, Espiritu Santo Bay, San Antonio Bay, and even Mesquite Bay. Coastal anglers who have fished these bays could probably offer endless suggestions as to how, when, and where to catch big wintertime trout within them.

Over the years, all of these bays have provided cold-water trout action that is comparable to anywhere else along the middle Texas Gulf Coast. With its seemingly countless options for locating leeward shorelines in almost any weather condition, this region presents itself as being a prime destination for anglers searching for career-best catches during the coldest times of the year.

With the numerous back-lake areas throughout this vast area, anglers can practically be guaranteed to be able to find areas that have been out of frontal-passage winds for a day or two.

Look for clear water whenever searching for trout in January, and keep in mind the fact that the larger trout are probably going to be feeding primarily upon baitfish right now.

Locating an area with a presence of mullet should help you in your effort to locate trout.

A lot of people, me included, will tell you that if you pull into a spot where the area appears to be devoid of any mullet activity, you should not waste your time anchoring and wading. If the mullet aren’t there, the trout probably won’t be there either. When you find the mullet, your odds at finding the trout multiply significantly.

We talk a lot about the importance of fishing for trout over mud at this time in the year.

The mud is capable of absorbing and holding heat from the sun much better than sand, so is favored by the fish during the colder months. However, there’s another structural

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baits will cast a greater silhouette against the surface of the water as the fish look up at it.

This is why I often choose colors like black, brown, root beer, motor oil, plum, and purple when selecting my wintertime offerings.

If I happen to be fishing insome extremely clear water, I’ll also consider using baits that have a bright contrasting color on the tail of the bait in shades of chartreuse, glow, or even white. I have experienced some exceptional catches using plastic mullet-imitations like the Trout Killer, the Killer Flats Minnow, the Texas Red Killer, the Bull Minnow, the Swimming Shad, and the Super Shad just to name a few.

One last topic to discuss is the simple fact that this is January, and it is cold. Successful coastal anglers will be those who remember that the trout right now are more interested in trying to make it through the cold months than they are in attacking fast-moving baits.

They’ll eat, but they will sometimes appear stubborn in their slow approach to your bait.

Additionally, their mouths are often exceptionally soft now, so bring your lure back at slow speed.

This will also help to reduce the number of times you rip your bait right out of their mouth. Make it a point in January to slow your retrieve to what, at times, may feel to you as being a painstakingly slow pace. Those who are willing to spend the time and effort in developing the patience for doing so can often recognize nothing less than truly amazing results.

Contact Capt. Chris Martin at bayflatslodge@gmail.com or visit bayflatslodge.com

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Coastal Focus: ROCKPORT :: by Capt.

MAC GABLE

Leftovers

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HAD TWO CLIENTS THIS BRIGHT, HOT August day, and we were blessed with a nice box of trout and reds and a few flounders to top off a good fishing trip. As is much appreciated by just about any fishing guide, my clients said they had had a great day fishing and were ready to call it a day a bit early.

Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I secured the reels and made my Haynie ready for running. After a leisurely 30-minute boat ride, we approached the boat dock.

Suddenly, the lady on board covered her mouth and nose, “OMG!” she said. “What is that smell?”

“That ma’am,” I replied, “is the ‘leftovers’ from the cleaning station.”

“Captain Mac can we go somewhere else?” she asked. “It’s about to make me sick at my stomach.”

“Yes ma’am. We can carry your catch to my place as I have a fish cleaning station next to the house.”

“Are there that many fish cleaned here on average?” she asked.

“On any given day more than several hundred, and I’m being conservative.”

“You’d think there would be a better way to dispose of the leftovers,” she more stated, than asked.

Of course she was and is right. We are extremely wasteful in our fish cleaning methods, and we could learn a thing or two from our Asian brothers and sisters.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization recently proclaimed the absurdity of this waste and matter of factly suggested we all need to put more of the leftover carcasses on our plates.

“Capt. Mac,” you say, “I’m not eating fish heads and rice! It’s not the way I was raised and certainly not tempting to my palate.”

I hear you, but consider this—in 2014 more than 400,000 tons of discarded fish parts were dumped into coastal waterways world-

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ing fish heads and fish parts to Korea, China and Africa where they are prized for making fish soup.

Many entrepreneurs around the world are seeing the value of this much-wasted resource and are rapidly getting into the business. Most Americans don’t like to eat something with eyes that stare back at them; but truthfully, the eyes contain rich quantities of DHA and EPA, which are very rare unsaturated fatty acids.

I for one don’t care for sushi, as I don’t eat any meat that is not cooked, but I’m not talking about raw fish here—it is all thoroughly cooked.

It amazes me many people won’t think twice about popping the head off a crawfish, sucking the entrails out, then follow up by eating the tail. Yet, they won’t entertain eating a well-cooked fish head where, by the way, some very tasty meat resides.

In Alaska the halibut is known for a small piece of succulent meat known as cheek meat.

It is very expensive to buy and you pay top dollar for it in restaurants. Guess where it resides?

You guessed it, just behind the halibut eyes.

wide (again, a very conservative number).

According to the National Marine Fisheries Service when fileting a fish close to three pounds of discarded heads and scraps yields only one pound of boneless filet. I mean, come on folks! We are knocking on eight billion people on this planet and can no longer afford to do things the way we always have. It doesn’t make ethical and resourceful common sense.

Further, for you nutrition minded anglers, fish bones, brains, cartilage and fish fat are nutritious, containing extra-high levels of vitamin A, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc and calcium. But to bring the conversation back home, many of us can—and some do—use the leftovers to make fish stock. Fish stock is very tasty and can be the foundation for many mouth-watering recipes.

Aside from the eating qualities of this much squandered and misused resource, my pappy used his fish parts in his garden, and it was wonderful fertilizer. Some very smart people in Norway, Iceland, Scotland and, even now, the U.S. are seeing the monetary value of send-

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Forecast: ROCKPORT tomato plants explode with growth.

The meat around the bones is truly the best part. Further, any fish cooked with the skin on has a much better taste. There is a chemical reason for that, but I won’t go into it here.

If you are not into the skin, feed it to your dog (remove all bones) or put it in your garden or compost pile. It is loaded with omega 3 fatty acids Yes, fileting is faster, easier and less mess, but it’s also wasteful at a 3 to 1 ratio.

I know the way to a person’s heart is through his or her stomach. Fish heads and its counterparts are really delicious—especially with a little cooking practice. Once the taste buds are activated, spending a little more time in cleaning and disposing of the leftovers might just be worthwhile. Fish heads and rice anyone? Serve it up I say!

I would be less than truthful if I said January was a great month for fishing, for truly it is not, especially for the angler who does not live here on the coast. The fishing can be spotty, and most people who fish this time of year use frozen bait or artificial. Guides as well as those who frequent these waters target specific areas they know hold fish, or they go after a certain species they know are in the area.

••• COPANO BAY: The pilings close to the LBJ causeway are a good spot for sheepshead using free-lined cut squid or small pieces of shrimp on very small kahle hooks. The channels from Mission Bay into Copano are good for black drum and even a few keeper reds using peeled shrimp on a light Carolina rig.

Some delicious meat resides in the same spot on the fish heads you and I are chunking into the water for the crabs to dine on.

Okay, so maybe I’m not winning you over here, but just a few changes to the way we clean our fish can make a big difference. Belly meat is a good place to start. It’s the part most folks cut off after they have fileted their catch.

It is also known as the rib meat or belly meat, and it’s really good eating. I know one fellow who will clean fish for folks just to get the belly meat most just throw away.

Cut the throat meat out of your catch especially on large reds and trout? Some even do it on large black drum. Sheepshead is a great fish to cook whole. Gut it, cut the head off and cook it, bones and all, much like we used to cook sun perch.

Keep a small bucket with you when you clean your fish and save the stuff you normally throw into the water and put it on ice. It will keep almost as long as your filets. Once you’re home, bury it in your garden and watch your

ARANSAS BAY: Silent wades on the north side of Mud Island are good for reds using new penny jerk shad soft plastics. This is also a good place to set up and cast cut mullet into the many potholes and sand holes found in this area. Traylor Island still has a few trout and some reds using live shrimp for the trout and Berkley molting crab under a bubble cork for the reds.

ST CHARLES BAY: On colder days the area around Salt Creek and Twins Creek is a good spot for black drum using peeled shrimp or cut squid on a very light Carolina rig. The mouth of Little Devils Bayou on a falling tide is a good spot for some keeper reds using cut mullet or mud minnows.

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CARLOS BAY: The best place here on the colder days is Cape Carlos Trench using deep running lures in blue and gold colors. On a slack tide, cut menhaden works well on a medium heavy Carolina rig. On warmer days, the shell just off Cedar Reef is a good spot for reds using free-lined mud minnows.

MESQUITE BAY: Drifts across Brays Cove is good for a variety of fish using a silent cork and live shrimp. Flounders can be caught here as well as reds and trout. The trick is patience and persistence. Slow drifts are best with frequent casting. The northeast side of the bay is a good spot for sheepshead and some black drum using peeled shrimp on a light Carolina rig.

AYERS BAY: Some trout on warmer days are just off Ayers Reef. Soft plastics in nuclear chicken and morning glory colors are good choices. Throwing parallel to the reef I’ve found is best here; stay in about two to three feet of water. The shoreline of Rattlesnake Island holds some black drum as well as sheepshead. Frozen shrimp on a light Carolina rig is the best set up.

Here’s Wishing You Tight Lines, Bent Poles, and Plenty of Bait!

THE BANK BITE I LIKE WADING THE FULTON BEACH shoreline around the many piers in the area. The piers hold some trout and sheepsheads as well as some keeper black drum. Berkley gulp shrimp and crab are great baits to use here. The color varies with new penny always a good choice. For the drum, frequently douse the bait back in the bag after casting as drums tend to be mostly scent feeders.

Please be respectful of the private piers in this area.

Take some water and a snack along as these wades can be pretty long.

Contact Capt. Mac Gable at Mac Attack Guide Service, 512-809-2681, 361-790-9601 captmac@macattackguideservice.com

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Coastal Focus: LOWER COAST :: by Saltwater Editor CALIXTO GONZALES

Red January

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N THE LOWER TEXAS GULF Coast, the end of federal red snapper season after a few too-short days in summer does not mean that fishing for the “rare” species is over.

Red snapper, ironically, is no longer considered overfished, but is listed as a recovered species. It also doesn’t mean that you have to prepare for an expedition. The 30-mile trips out into the Gulf of Mexico, where you fish in depths up to 200-300 feet aren’t required to find the crimson reef fish.

Let’s face it, running from dawn to noon to get a couple of hours of fishing in before you chug back to the dock isn’t much fun.

This becomes the norm as larger fish move farther and farther off-shore, and large red snappers are the only way to justify the expense of a trip to fill a two-fish-per-person federal limit.

When the wind picks up and seas become messy, it becomes even less fun. Tight bag limits, growing fuel costs, and expense in time and effort make it more and more impractical even for private boat owners to get to some of the better reefs and wrecks.

Plenty of good fishing for red snappers exists within Texas’s state waters (within nine nautical miles of shore) in late fall and early winter. Oil and gas drilling rigs, rockpiles, wrecks, and holes, plus the rapid slope to deeper water, combine to create a nearshore red snapper fishery within easy access of large boats and the “mosquito fleet.”

Add to that, the new artificial reef that was dropped six miles off the Mansfield Jetties, and a state limit of four red snappers per person is a reachable goal. All you need is a sound boat and a cooler full of mullet.

On a calm day, in fact, it isn’t that uncommon to find several bay and flats boats offshore. Some anglers even make a quick hop

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Rio Grande to the Padre Island National Seashore. Many of these spots are in water between 50 and 70 feet of water and easily within sight of the beach. Places such xas the 60s require pinpoint anchoring to settle on top of the rocks rather than over barren sand.

The shallower water allows fishermen to shelve the Penn Senator reels and white fiberglass rods and use tackle more reserved for redfish. My friends and I prefer 20-poundclass tackle to snare state snappers.

My good buddy Gator Dave Rutledge, for example, prefers using a seven-foot Ugly Stik Tiger rod and Ambassadeur 7000 C loaded with 65-pound Power Pro braid. Terminal tackle includes 50-pound leaders, egg sinkers, and 5/0 circle hooks.

The sinkers range from one ounce to four ounces if the current is on the strong side. On one winter trip with Captain Frank Vazquez, my friends Anibal Gorena and Rutledge, my wife Sandie, and I battled snappers to 18 pounds on trout tackle. I used a seven foot, two inch Shimano Crucial and Curado 300 DSV, and those snappers wore me out!

Any finfish will work as bait for up-close snappers. Menhaden is the most available bait this time of year, but you can also use pinfish, whiting, sand trout, or yellowtail perch (those pesky little bait stealers that look like white bass). I also had a great deal of success with a six-inch Gulp Curlytail grub pinned on a three-ounce Spro Bucktail, both in chartreuse. Typically, these snappers will be suspended from the bottom to within 20 feet of the surface, so work your bait or lure from the bottom up. If nothing happens, send your rig back down to the bottom and start over.

Chances are, however, if you locate the fish, something will happen before you work for too long.

out to the new artificial reef for a quick limit of snappers before coming back in and going after their snappers and reds.

The remarkable thing about the inshore snapper fishery is that so many anglers run over prime fishing grounds en route to the state reef located inside of the nine-mile border with federal waters. With a little patience and a good set of electronics, you can locate isolated rocks and wrecks that are equally, or more, productive than the usual spots—and they’re all loaded with nice snappers.

“Nice snapper” usually means fish in the 18- to 22-inch range, with a few getting even bigger. You won’t find any of the 30-pound sows that inhabit wrecks and reefs farther out in Federal waters, but you will get an occasional 20, according to Vasquez.

Few anglers will complain about a four fish limit of six- to eight-pound snappers in the middle of two, thirty-minute runs out and back to port.

A closed commercial shrimping season (which generally runs from July until May) historically would help reduce bycatch pressure on red snapper for two months out of the year. Recently, the bycatch issue was reduced even further because of “lack of effort” caused by more shrimpers staying in port.

The double whammy of falling prices for shrimp because of the abundance of farmraised foreign shrimp and rising prices for diesel have combined to make drastic cuts into many shrimpers’ profit margins. Simply put, there are fewer shrimp boats on the water because it is too expensive. Red snappers benefit from this drop in pressure, and more fish grow to maturity.

It may not be as simple as finding a calm day, running three miles out of the Mansfield or Brazos Santiago Jetties, and catching a cooler full of snappers. Yet it isn’t prohibitive for the recreational angler with a good set of electronics to locate some fish.

Many of the local maps you can find at tackle shops and big box sporting goods outlets list the GPS numbers for popular near-offshore spots from the mouth of the F I S H

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FISHING HOTSPOTS Saltwater: n Upper Coast n Mid Coast n Lower Coast Freshwater: n Piney Woods

Freshwater: n Prairies & Lakes n Panhandle n Big Bend n Hill Country n South Texas

UPPER COAST

GPS COORDINATES are provided in two formats: “Decimal Degrees” (degrees.degrees) and “Degrees and Minutes” sometimes called “GPS Format” (degrees minutes.minutes).

Examples (for Downtown Austin): Decimal Degrees: N30.2777, W97.7379; Degrees and Minutes: N30 16.6662, W97 44.2739. Consult your manual for information specific to your GPS device.

It’s Christmas in January

by TOM BEHRENS

LOCATION: Christmas Bay HOTSPOT: Mouth of Churchill Bayou GPS: N 29 3.3499, W 95 9.7219 (29.0558, -95.1620)

LOCATION: East Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: North Shoreline GPS: N 29 33.1439, W 94 37.785 (29.5524, -94.6298)

SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Live shrimp and finger mullet CONTACT: Capt. Joe Madsen 281-960-6960 TIPS: As water drops out of the marshes you will find redfish schooled and feeding on shrimp and finger mullet.

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Corkys, MirrOlures and Bass Assassins CONTACT: Capt. Ralph Frazier 281-337-0321 www.fraziersguideservice.com TIPS: Bait colors: “I like to throw the darker colors when the water is clear. If you have a blue-bird sky, we always throw a silver/blue back or a chrome/blue back topwater for trout.” Capt. Frazier LOCATION: Christmas Bay HOTSPOT: Bastrop Bay Shell GPS: N 29 6.0329, W 95 10.2709 (29.1006, -95.1712)

LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay HOTSPOT: Drulls Lump GPS: N 28 42.285, W 95 50.0659 (28.7048, -95.8344)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Topwaters CONTACT: Capt. Glenn Ging 979-479-1460 glennging@gmail.com www.glennsguideservice.com TIPS: Don’t forget to try topwaters if the weather has been warm.

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Corkys, MirrOlures and Bass Assassins CONTACT: Capt. Ralph Frazier 281-337-0321 www.fraziersguideservice.com TIPS: Capt. Frazier starts his day with either a Corky or a Bass Assassin on the end of his line. “I like the four inch Sea Shad which comes in a host of colors.”

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LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay HOTSPOT: Halfmoon Shoal |

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GPS: N 28 43.371, W 95 46.228 (28.7229, -95.7705)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Glenn Ging 979-479-1460 glennging@gmail.com www.glennsguideservice.com TIPS: If fishing for big trout, Capt. Ging prefers to wade, but if a customer doesn’t want to wade, he will drift the shell reefs in five to six feet of water.

LOCATION: Matagorda East Bay HOTSPOT: Chinquapin Reef GPS: N 28 43.9939, W 95 47.9539 (28.7332, -95.7992)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Glenn Ging 979-479-1460 glennging@gmail.com www.glennsguideservice.com TIPS: If Capt. Ging is fishing deep reefs, he will be fishing with a popping cork and live shrimp LOCATION: Matagorda West Bay HOTSPOT: Peninsula Shoreline GPS: N 28 28.801, W 96 15.753 (28.4800, -96.2626)

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FISHING HOTSPOTS BEST BAITS: Soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Glenn Ging 979-479-1460 glennging@gmail.com www.glennsguideservice.com TIPS: Fish the drains coming into the bay on falling tides.

LOCATION: Matagorda West Bay HOTSPOT: Cottons Bayou GPS: N 28 31.342, W 96 12.489 (28.5224, -96.2082)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Popping cork with live shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Glenn Ging 979-479-1460 glennging@gmail.com www.glennsguideservice.com TIPS: Capt. Ging likes the Coastal Cork when using live shrimp under a popping cork.

LOCATION: Matagorda West Bay HOTSPOT: Phillips Bayou GPS: N 28 32.464, W 96 9.2839 (28.5411, -96.1547)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Popping cork with live shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Glenn Ging 979-479-1460 glennging@gmail.com www.glennsguideservice.com TIPS: If live shrimp are not available, he will use Gulp in a pearl color.

LOCATION: Matagorda West Bay HOTSPOT: Maverick Bayou GPS: N 28 34.663, W 96 3.705 (28.5777, -96.0618)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Glenn Ging 979-479-1460 glennging@gmail.com www.glennsguideservice.com TIPS: In January, Capt. Ging fishes East Bay for trout and West Bay for redfish.

LOCATION: Sabine Lake HOTSPOT: Black Bayou GPS: N 29 59.866, W 93 45.1819 (29.9978, -93.7530)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Down South Paddle Tails or TTF Trout Killer CONTACT: Capt. Joe Madsen 281-960-6960 TIPS: It all depends the how cold the month is as to whether the fish will be deep or shallow.

LOCATION: West Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Confederate Reef GPS: N 29 15.7549, W 94 55.177 (29.2626, -94.9196)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: MirrOlure soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Bill Watkins 409-673-9211 4097862018@sbcglobal.net www.fishsabinelake.com TIPS: For big trout, Capt. Watkins will be throwing a five -inch MirrOlure Provoker along with 1/4 ounce jig head. If the water gets cold, he might switch over to a 1/2 ounce gum ball jig head.

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Live shrimp under a popping cork CONTACT: Capt. Joe Madsen 281-960-6960 TIPS: If the weather is warm, live shrimp fished under a popping cork will still work, especially if the fish are in deeper water.

LOCATION: West Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: North Deer Island GPS: N 29 16.9639, W 94 56.223 (29.2827, -94.9371)

LOCATION: West Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Snake Island Cove GPS: N 29 6.1279, W 95 8.7259 (29.1021, -95.1454)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Down South Paddle Tails or TTF Trout Killer CONTACT: Capt. Joe Madsen 281-960-6960 TIPS: As the temperature drops, trout should relocate to muddy bottoms because the mud will hold heat better.

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LOCATION: West Galveston Bay HOTSPOT: Alligator Point GPS: N 29 10.2889, W 95 6.8789 (29.1715, -95.1147)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Corkys, MirrOlures and Bass Assassins CONTACT: Capt. Ralph Frazier 281-337-0321 www.fraziersguideservice.com TIPS: “Wade fishing in January and February is best in West Bay and the back of Trinity Bay if there is no fresh water coming in from the river.” Capt. Frazier |

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Super Flats, Super Specks

LOCATION: Colorado River HOTSPOT: Selkirk Island GPS: N 28 45.3324, W 95 59.3808 (28.7555, -95.9897) SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Down South soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “The Down South Paddle Tail soft plastic has good action without try to put any thing else into it. You can almost throw it like a spoon.” Capt. McPartland

by TOM BEHRENS LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: Super Flats GPS: N 27 54.669, W 97 2.196 (27.9112, -97.0366)

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LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: Last Chance GPS: N 27 58.452, W 97 4.7939 (27.9742, -97.0799) SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Down South soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: Jig head weight: “A lot of people like a 1/4 ounce. I like 1/8 ounce…unless you are fishing near the jetties.” Capt. McPartland LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: Mud Island GPS: N 27 56.635, W 97 1.266 (27.9439, -97.0211)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Popping cork with live shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “A drifting popping cork with live shrimp will catch trout and some redfish too, especially right after a front, even when we still have a north wind.” Capt.

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LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: South Bay GPS: N 27 53.4589, W 97 5.7889 (27.8910, -97.0965)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Popping cork with live shrimp CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “If you can’t find live shrimp, change to a paddle

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Down South soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “A 1/8 ounce jig head works great if there isn’t a lot of tidal current, but in some place like the jetties the 1/8 ounce head would probably float on top.” Capt.

McPartland LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Little Flats GPS: N 27 48.768, W 97 6.6829 (27.8128, -97.1114)

LOCATION: Aransas Bay HOTSPOT: Upper Estes Flats GPS: N 27 57.058, W 97 5.3309 (27.9510, -97.0889)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Glenn Ging 979-479-1460 glennging@gmail.com www.glennsguideservice.com TIPS: Ging is fishing the deep holes in the river, using soft plastics LOCATION: Corpus Christi Bay HOTSPOT: Mustang Island Flats GPS: N 27 41.5159, W 97 11.437 (27.6919, -97.1906)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Down South soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: Pumpkin Seed/chartreuse and strawberry/white paddle tails are Capt. McPartland’s favorite colors.

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tail (Down South) soft plastic used with a 1/8 ounce jig head.” Capt. McPartland

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Down South soft plastics

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FISHING HOTSPOTS CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “With a 1/8 ounce jig head you don’t have to work it as fast. With a 1/4 ounce jig head, it just falls to the bottom.” Capt. McPartland LOCATION: Nueces Bay HOTSPOT: Porno Flats GPS: N 27 51.42, W 97 21.357 (27.8570, -97.3560)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Down South soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “If we get cool or cold weather, my main thing is to fish a soft mud bottom. The mud will hold the heat better.” Capt. McPartland

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LOCATION: Redfish Bay HOTSPOT: East Flats GPS: N 27 56.541, W 97 5.944 (27.9424, -97.0991)

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Down South soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “Most of the areas that you fish don’t have real bad tide movement down here. I don’t need the heavy weight to control the lure.” Capt. McPartland

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Down South soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302

LOCATION: Redfish Bay HOTSPOT: Brown and Root Flats GPS: N 27 51.1639, W 97 5.812 (27.8527, -97.0969)

treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “After a front, the fish move to mud bottoms; when it warms up they will move back on to the sand pockets, hard bottoms…good for wading for the big trout.” Capt. McPartland LOCATION: Redfish Bay HOTSPOT: Terminal Flats GPS: N 27 54.606, W 97 7.009 (27.9101, -97.1168)

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SPECIES: Redfish BEST BAITS: Down South soft plastics CONTACT: Capt. Jack McPartland 361-290-6302 treblejcharters@yahoo.com www.treble-j-charters.com TIPS: “The reds won’t be moving around as much early, until mid morning. I would suggest jumping from pot hole to pot hole until you see some bait moving.”

Capt. McPartland

LOWER COAST

Isabel Snook, Drum & Trout

by CALIXTO GONZALES and TOM BEHRENS LOCATION: Port Isabel HOTSPOT: Brownsville Ship Channel GPS: N 26 0.405, W 97 16.465 (26.0068, -97.2744)

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SPECIES: Snook, black drum and speckled trout BEST BAITS: Shrimp, if available, or cut bait CONTACT: Capt. DeWitt Thomas 956-551-1965 cdct1005@aol.com www.customsportanglers.com TIPS: “Fishing structure, use three-four inch live

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FISHING HOTSPOTS shrimp, and flip the bait under the dock. Drag must be tightened down really tight because you will have to horse the fish out.” Capt. Thomas LOCATION: Port Isabel HOTSPOT: Cullen Channel GPS: N 26 15.6, W 97 17.415 (26.2600, -97.2903)

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BEST BAITS: Norton Bull Minnows CONTACT: Capt. Steve Ellis 956-492-8472 captainsteve52@hotmail.com TIPS: “January fishing is incredibly weather oriented.

During this time of the year we like to target big trout because everything else can be so flakey.” Capt. Ellis

HOTSPOT: Old Causeway GPS: N 26 4.3882, W 97 10.9579 (26.0731, -97.1826)

LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Shrimp, if available, or cut bait CONTACT: Capt. DeWitt Thomas 956-551-1965 cdct1005@aol.com www.customsportanglers.com TIPS: Capt. Thomas likes to use a four inch popping cork with a red bead under the cork…”adds a little weight and extra noise.” Capt. Thomas LOCATION: Port Isabel HOTSPOT: South Bay GPS: N 26 1.771, W 97 11.0479 (26.0295, -97.1841)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout, sheepheads, black drum BEST BAITS: Shrimp, if available, or cut bait CONTACT: Capt. DeWitt Thomas 956-551-1965 cdct1005@aol.com www.customsportanglers.com TIPS: “In the back of the bay there are some oyster beds where you can find snook. Use small mullet for bait.” Capt. Thomas LOCATION: Lower Laguna Madre HOTSPOT: Mouth of the Land Cut GPS: N 26 48.6139, W 97 28.1399 (26.8102, -97.4690)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout

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FISHING HOTSPOTS captainsteve52@hotmail.com TIPS: Capt. Ellis’ favorite soft plastic colors are Cock Roach, black/gold…something dark. Other good colors are purple/chartreuse, and white/chartreuse tails.

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LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: South Side of East Cut GPS: N 26 32.814, W 97 23.089 (26.5469, -97.3848)

SPECIES: Redfish, black drum, sheepshead and trout BEST BAITS: Shrimp, if available, or cut bait CONTACT: Capt. DeWitt Thomas 956-551-1965 cdct1005@aol.com www.customsportanglers.com TIPS: “Fish the remnants of the old Queen Isabel bridge…a great place to catch mangroves.” Capt.

Thomas LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: East Cut GPS: N 26 33.7999, W 97 17.029 (26.5633, -97.2838)

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Norton Bull Minnows CONTACT: Capt. Steve Ellis 956-492-8472 captainsteve52@hotmail.com TIPS: He likes the East Cut area because of all the islands, oyster beds, passes and drains.

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SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Norton Bull Minnows CONTACT: Capt. Steve Ellis 956-492-8472 captainsteve52@hotmail.com TIPS: “The flats can be completely barren of fish, but on warmer days the fish will come out on our sand flats … tremendous amount of sand flats.” Capt. Ellis LOCATION: Caddo Lake HOTSPOT: Big Cypress River & Alligator Bayou GPS: N 32 40.752, W 94 3.45 u TAP FOR (32.6792, -94.0575)

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LOCATION: Port Mansfield HOTSPOT: North Side of East Cut GPS: N 26 34.365, W 97 22.377 (26.5728, -97.3730) SPECIES: Largemouth Bass and White Bass BEST BAITS: Alabama rigs, crankbaits and swimbaits CONTACT: Caddo Lake Guide Service/Paul Keith 318-455-3437 caddoguide1@att.net www.caddolakefishing.com TIPS: “Fish the drop offs in the main channel on the Texas side of the lake. Watch for large schools of shad.

Pay particular attention to bends and boat road intersections. Both black and white bass will school in January in this area. Alligator Bayou is a second option.”

SPECIES: Speckled Trout BEST BAITS: Norton Bull Minnows CONTACT: Capt. Steve Ellis 956-492-8472

PINEY WOODS

White Bass Ready to Run

by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Lake Livingston HOTSPOT: Trinity River Near Carolina Cove GPS: N 30 51.732, W 95 19.914 (30.8622, -95.3319)

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SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: ¼ oz. Rat-L-Trap in silver/blue and gold/black CONTACT: David S. Cox, Palmetto Guide Service 936-291-9602 dave@palmettoguideservice.com www.palmettoguideservice.com TIPS: Fish in the river for spawning White Bass if river is clear. Cast out, let bait drop down, and then reel in at medium speed. Troll the baits along ledges, in front of cuts and across sand bar points until you find the fish.

BANK ACCESS: Launch out of Cove Marina LOCATION: Lake Conroe HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 26.9219, W 95 35.394 (30.4487, -95.5899)

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SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows and jigs in Electric Chicken color CONTACT: Doug Shampine 940-902-3855 doug@lakeforktrophybass.com www.lakeforktrophybass.com TIPS: January is a good month to crappie fish on Lake Fork. The crappie are deep and in their winter pattern, which means they are 26-43 foot deep. January is also one of the months you must keep the first 25 crappie you catch. No culling allowed and this is due to the depths you are catching them. Minnows will work but I have my best luck on Electric Chicken colored jigs (chartreuse /green) Areas to find the deeper crappie will be the flats in front of Little Caney, Woodpecker point about where the boat lane is located, the mouth of the east arm, and the 154 bridge.

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Lipless rattle baits, jerk baits and jig and pig.

CONTACT: Lance Vick 903-312-0609 lance@lakeforkbass.com www.guideonlakefork.com TIPS: “In the start of the new season, I’m looking shallow this time of year. Channel swings and points leading to spawning areas great places to start. Any vegetation is a sure bet.

Throw lipless rattle baits if the water temperature is above 50 degrees and jerk baits if it is below 50 degrees. If you are fishing hard cover, like docks it standing timber, it’s hard to beat a jig and pig. Good fishin’ and Happy New Year!”

LOCATION: Toledo Bend HOTSPOT: Brown’s Bend GPS: N 31 42.324, W 93 47.8199 (31.7054, -93.7970)

LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: Channel Swings, Points and Hard Cover GPS: N 32 50.406, W 95 34.656 (32.8401, -95.5776) SPECIES: Hybrid Stripers BEST BAITS: Live shad, Storm Swim Shad and crankbaits CONTACT: Richard Tatsch 936-291-1277 admin@fishdudetx.com www.fishdudetx.com TIPS: The hybrid stripers are schooling around ledges along the river channel. Find the schools of shad and you will find the hybrids. This time of year they will run shad up on these ridges during the day they will move deeper around the area. Find the depth the bait are in and you will find the fish. As the water temperatures drop they will be in the 30 to 40 foot depths. Live shad will be the bait of choice in deeper water but the swim shad will work as long as you can control your retrieve to keep the bait in the strike zone. Occasionally they move up to the 15 and 20 foot range and you can catch them with a deep diving crankbait like a 6XD in a shad pattern.

LOCATION: Lake Fork HOTSPOT: 154 Bridge GPS: N 32 51.4919, W 95 31.956 (32.8582, -95.5326)

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FISHING HOTSPOTS LOCATION: Bachman Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 32 51.1859, W 96 52.014 (32.8531, -96.8669)

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SPECIES: White Bass BEST BAITS: Slab spoons & Rat-L-Traps for the Sandiest and shiners and jigs for the Crappie CONTACT: Greg Crafts, Toledo Bend Guide Service and Lake Cottages 936-368-7151 gregcrafts@yahoo.com www.toledobendguide.com TIPS: In January the White Bass will be feeding heavy bulking up before making their annual run up the river to spawn. The Whites will be holding on the north end river channel sandbars. If we receive a lot of rain and have a strong river current, you will start seeing some action in the river proper. Otherwise, work the main lake sandbars with slab spoons, Rat-L- Traps and tail spinners. Use your electronics to locate the baitfish.

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SPECIES: Crappie and Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Crappie: jigs and minnows / Bass: 10” red and black worms Carolina rigged CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: Bass and crappie prospects are good early and late in the day. Bass are in 1 to 5 feet of water and are gorging in the shallows in the evening and morning.

LOCATION: Cedar Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Mid to Lower Main Lake GPS: N 32 12.972, W 96 4.986 (32.2162, -96.0831)

PRAIRIES & LAKES

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Somerville Cats Rock the Dam

by DUSTIN WARNCKE and DEAN HEFFNER LOCATION: Lake Somerville HOTSPOT: Dam Rock Island GPS: N 30 18.7799, W 96 31.6619 (30.3130, -96.5277)

SPECIES: Hybrid Stripers and White Bass BEST BAITS: 1/4 oz. to 1oz jig heads with shad imitations such as flukes or Sassy Shad CONTACT: Jason Barber 903-603-2047 kingscreekadventures@yahoo.com www.kingscreekadventures.com TIPS: Use 1/4 oz. to 1oz jig heads with shad imitations such as flukes or sassy shad. Find bait in 25’ to 50’ anywhere on the main lake, but especially mid-lake south, and fish for suspended fish 2’ to 10’ up from bottom.

Leave the bait still. This technique is also called “dead sticking.” Bang on the boat for added attraction.”

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: CJ’s Punch Bait / Crawdad CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: There is 16-20 feet of water here. Look for drop off in rocks. Large blues and yellow cats are deeper in cold weather. Set several lines around the boat and fish straight down. Try different depths.

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LOCATION: Fayette County HOTSPOT: Intake Corner GPS: N 29 55.2719, W 96 44.8379 (29.9212, -96.7473)

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: CJ’s Punch Bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Deeper water is close here and the winter bite can be strong. A slip cork will help you not hang on rocks at this hotspot. You can also tight line if fishing straight down at bottom of rocks. Use chum for straight down fishing.

LOCATION: Gibbons Creek HOTSPOT: Gibbons Creek Bed GPS: N 30 37.2479, W 96 4.1579 (30.6208, -96.0693)

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Shad / CJ’s Punch Bait CONTACT: Weldon Kirk 979-229-3103 weldon_edna@hotmail.com www.fishtales-guideservice.com TIPS: Gibbons Creek and Hog creek join here. Large cats hang in this area when water is colder. Use large baits for large fish and punch bait for a variety of cats.

LOCATION: Granger Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake Humps and Points GPS: N 30 41.544, W 97 21.396 (30.6924, -97.3566)

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SPECIES: Blue Catfish BEST BAITS: Cut shad, Zote soap and perch CONTACT: Tommy Tidwell 512-365-7761 crappie1@hotmail.com www.gotcrappie.com TIPS: About the only fishing this time of year is for blue catfish. They like the cold conditions and feed heavily on shad that are on windblown points and humps. The best technique is to use jug lines. About anywhere shad show up on your sonar are good spots. Use 11/0 Mustad tuna circle hooks. When a blue gets on these, he will not get off. Two hooks are plenty for each jug line. Good luck and good fishing.

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FISHING HOTSPOTS u TAP FOR ONLINE MAP

LOCATION: Lake Eagle Mountain HOTSPOT: Lake Just south of Pelican Island GPS: N 32 54.304, W 97 30.237 u TAP FOR (32.9051, -97.5040)

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ONLINE MAP

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Creature baits Texas rigged or Carolina rigged and DD 22s crankbaits CONTACT: Carey Thorn 469-528-0210 thorn_alex@yahoo.com TexasOklahomaFishingGuide.com TIPS: Fish creature baits Texas rigged 10-25 ft. on rocks and humps. Also, on the humps you can Carolina rig. Fish DD 22 crankbaits bumping along the riprap.

This should also produce some hogs.

SPECIES: Blue Cats BEST BAITS: Cut or whole shad CONTACT: Johnny Stevens 817-597-6598 johnnyguideservice.com TIPS: This area is surrounded by two channels, Walnut Creek on the west and Trinity River on the east. This area is 4 feet to 10 feet deep. The water warms up during the day. The shad go to the warm shallow water and the blue cats follow them. I like to anchor the front and back of the boat to eliminate sway. I use Carolina rig with circle hooks. If you don’t get a bite in a few minutes move until you find them. In this area they tend to stack p in one area.

LOCATION: Lake Granbury HOTSPOT: Bridge Pilings GPS: N 32 26.404, W 97 46.977 (32.4401, -97.7830)

LOCATION: Lake Palestine HOTSPOT: Cades Lake Area GPS: N 32 17.5019, W 95 27.186 (32.2917, -95.4531)

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Big Eye jig, Big Eye spinnerbait, Big Eye buzzbait from Texas Spinnerbait Company CONTACT: Ricky Vandergriff 903-561-7299 or 903-530-2201 ricky@rickysguideservice.com www. rickysguideservice.com TIPS: “Fish in 2 to 5 foot of water in the Cades Lake area. Fish the Big Eye Jig in black/blue along the river channel fishing all stumps you can find. Make sure you are fishing very slowly. Cast Big Eye Spinnerbait in chartreuse/white as these lures can be fished all day.

Also fish in the Cades Lake pond as there will be pads and stems and fish this early with the Big Eye Buzz Bait then switch back n forth between the Big Eye Jig and the spinnerbait. Again, fish very slow for best results.”

SPECIES: White Crappie BEST BAITS: White/chartreuse crappie jigs worked vertically CONTACT: Michael W. Acosta, Unfair Advantage Charters 817-578-0023 unfairadvantagecharters.com TIPS: Jigs worked off the bottom in 20 to 30 feet of water where baitfish are located. Work close to structure when the bite is finicky.

LOCATION: Lake Texoma HOTSPOT: Paw Paw Creek and Willis Bridge GPS: N 33 53.9879, W 96 53.796 (33.8998, -96.8966)

LOCATION: Lake Lavon HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 33 2.4042, W 96 26.8799 (33.0401, -96.4480)

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Road Runner and Sassy Shad jigs CONTACT: Bill Carey 903-786-4477 bigfish@striperexpress.com www.striperexpress.com TIPS: January is a big fish month at Lake Texoma. The cool water winter fishing is legendary. Large stripers up to 20 pounds will hold on structure. A 7-foot medium heavy fishing rod with 20-pound test is recommended.

The 1-ounce Road Runner jigs with a white 9-inch worm will produce fish located on main lake points, the mouths of creeks and humps with deep water nearby.

The cooler the weather the better the fishing holds true for these fighting fish. Bait fishing with live shad is also an excellent way to catch stripers. Pay attention to the weather forecast and dress warm. Our charters depart at 10:30 a.m. in the winter. The fish will bite all day and the solar heat can help keep you warm. Keep your eyes on the seagulls as they can be your best fish locator.

LOCATION: Ray Roberts Lake HOTSPOT: Corps of Engineer brush pile GPS: N 33 22.711, W 97 3.31 (33.3785, -97.0552)

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SPECIES: Crappie BEST BAITS: Minnows CONTACT: Jim Walling 940-391-5534 Jimwwalling@icloud.com TIPS: This time of year can still be good Crappie fishing on many of the Corps brush piles scattered around the lake. Most of the piles are located on a submerged point, therefore they are located near a drop into deeper water. I look for the deepest part of the particular pile and fish minnows near the bottom in this area. The action may be slow, however the quality of the fish being caught now is very good. We have good numbers of Crappie from 1-2.5 pounds.

LOCATION: Lake Whitney HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 31 53.52, W 97 22.794

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FISHING HOTSPOTS (31.8920, -97.3799)

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the BIG BLUES are caught!!!

TIPS: “January will find the bass on the steep banks all over the lake and in the deep water in the channels of Big Grape, Gobbler, Ince, Little Grape, and Rocky Creeks. Use jigs, spoons, and crankbaits in the channels.

Use shaky heads, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, and crankbaits on the steep banks. In January be sure to choose your days. Watch for the warmest day just before a front is coming through the area, and look for the warmest water you can find which will be up the creeks shallow, or in the deep areas of the creeks.”

PANHANDLE

SPECIES: Striped Bass BEST BAITS: 1/2 OZ Stripaholic Jigs from www. rsrlures.com with chartreuse Bass Assassins or Sassy Shad CONTACT: Randy Routh 817-822-5539 teamredneck01@hotmail.com www.teamredneck.net TIPS: “We have really slowed our presentation down on the baits with the colder water temperatures, sometimes even dead sticking Bass Assassins at times. Position your boat over the school of fish and count the bait down to, or just above the school of stripers and do nothing.

Let the current give the bait it’s action. When you feel that light tap be quick on the hook set! Other days when the fish are on the move actively feeding we are strolling the baits using the 1/2 oz. or 3/4 oz. jigs with Sassy Shad depending on how deep the fish are. Make long casts and slowly drag the baits behind the boat using the trolling motor. Remember, when you think your fishing slow enough, SLOW DOWN! May God bless you and hope some day soon to see ya on the water!”

LOCATION: Richland Chambers Lake HOTSPOT: Richland Creek Arm in Heavy Timber Areas GPS: N 31 57.2819, W 96 18.8159 u TAP FOR (31.9547, -96.3136)

ONLINE MAP

SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Danny King’s punch bait CONTACT: Royce Simmons 903-389-4117 simmonsroyce@hotmail.com www.gonefishin.biz TIPS: In January it is almost a 100% guarantee to catch Blue & Channel Catfish on Richland Chambers.

Head up the Richland Creek Arm of the Lake and fish the heavy timber. The fish are easily caught on Danny Kings punch bait on a # 4 treble hook. Most days the fish will be in depths of 20’-30’ feet of water and near the bottom. To increase your chances of filling the ice chest with “eater size” fish, chum the area with a little bit of sour maize. Always take the net as wintertime is when

Possum Kingdom is for the Birds

by DUSTIN WARNCKE and DEAN HEFFNER LOCATION: Possum Kingdom Res. HOTSPOT: Bird Island GPS: N 32 56.377, W 98 25.987 (32.9396, -98.4331)

LOCATION: Lake Alan Henry HOTSPOT: Steep Banks and River Channels GPS: N 33 2.7599, W 101 3.684 (33.0460, -101.0614)

SPECIES: Rainbow trout BEST BAITS: Corn, Trout Nibbles, lures CONTACT: Michael D. Homer, Jr., Texas Parks & Wildlife Department 325-692-0921 michael.homer@tpwd.texas.gov TIPS: Rainbow trout stockings will be a new addition to the fishing recreation opportunities at the Ft. Griffin State Historic Site. Stockings of rainbow trout will occur in both early January and once more in February. Baits such as sweet corn, trout nibbles, worms and lures such as spoons, Super Dupers, and spinners may work well to help you land your limit.

HILL COUNTRY

Beds and Creeks for Austin Bass

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by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Lake Austin HOTSPOT: Creek Inlets and Bedding Areas GPS: N 30 19.5119, W 97 49.8959 (30.3252, -97.8316)

SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Jigs, spoons crankbaits shaky heads, spinnerbaits and jerk baits CONTACT: Norman Clayton’s Guide Services 806-792-9220 nclayton42@sbcglobal.net www.lakealanhenry.com/norman_clayton.htm F I S H

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SPECIES: Striped & White Bass BEST BAITS: jigs & slabs, crankbaits CONTACT: Dean Heffner 940-329-0036 fav7734@aceweb.com TIPS: First off, pay attention to the birds, as they will put you on schooling/feeding fish. Stripers, hybrids and white bass will push baits along the old river channel and up onto the sandbars. On cloudy days they might be in 8 to 10 feet of water or in 18 to 25 feet. Live bait is best, but jigs and slabs are best this time of year hopped right off bottom. Pay close attention to your graph and any humps, dips and drop–offs. You might find some black bass in a school and they will eat a slab, but love a silver spoon even better.

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LOCATION: Ft. Griffin State Historic Site HOTSPOT: Ponds GPS: N 32 55.3513, W 99 13.7514 (32.9225, -99.2292)

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FISHING HOTSPOTS SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: Cyclone and Picasso spinnerbaits, River2Sea S-Waver swimbaits and crankbaits, T-rig or weightless rig with a V&M Wild Thang 8.5 worm or Chopstick CONTACT: Brian Parker - Lake Austin Fishing 817-808-2227 lakeaustinfishing@yahoo.com www.LakeAustinFishing.com TIPS: I generally try to find flats that are close to deeper/thick grass as this is the typical pattern for ambushing shad and smaller fish. Be prepared to throw multiple baits at the same area. I will usually throw Cyclone and Picasso spinnerbaits along the edges and River2Sea S-Waver swim baits and cranks as well. If the moving baits aren’t pulling the bigger fish out, I’ll tie on a T-rig or weightless rig and use a V&M Wild Thang 8.5 worm or Chopstick to work just off the grass. Work from shallow to deeper water.

LOCATION: Canyon Lake HOTSPOT: Guadalupe River Area GPS: N 29 54.348, W 98 18.8399 (29.9058, -98.3140)

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SPECIES: Catfish BEST BAITS: Cut shad CONTACT: Clancy Terrill 512-633-6742 centraltexasfishing@yahoo.com www.centraltexasfishing.com TIPS: Catfish can be caught this time of year on jug lines or rod and reel using bobbers with cut shad in 10-15 ft. Fish up river in pockets between brush lines.

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Main Lake GPS: N 30 53.232, W 98 27.174 (30.8872, -98.4529)

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SPECIES: White Bass and Striped Bass BEST BAITS: Silver 1 oz. slabs, live shad or live bream CONTACT: Ken Milam 325-379-2051 kmilam@verizon.net www.striperfever.com.com TIPS: Stripers are in the shallow waters around cover early in the day. Later one, fish along the river channel in the old trees and other cover. Some top water action is found this year as well. White bass are on upper end of the lake in the Tow area as well as along the humps and tree lines around the river and incoming creeks.

Fish silver 1 oz. slabs or live shad or bream for bait in these areas.

Creek Mouths Open for Bass

by DUSTIN WARNCKE LOCATION: Coleto Creek Lake HOTSPOT: Main Lake and Mouths of Creeks

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SPECIES: Largemouth Bass BEST BAITS: White pearl color flukes and other lures in this color.

CONTACT: Rocky’s Guide Service 361-960-0566 TIPS: Nothing like making it to a new year! Happy New Year everyone! This time of year can be a slow bite. This is where Carolina rigging pays off. Go deep and pull it slow. The right equipment pays off when you can barely feel the bite. As always find the grass and you’ll find fish. Fish the main lake or creek mouths and you should do well. I like white pearl color. The shad will be the main food source. May your bites be big and your fish be healthy.

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NEW 2017 EDITION

SOUTH TEXAS

LOCATION: Lake Buchanan HOTSPOT: Up River Area GPS: N 30 51.9899, W 98 25.53 (30.8665, -98.4255)

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SPECIES: Crappie & largemouth bass BEST BAITS: Drop-shots and jigs CONTACT: Barry Dodd - Teach ‘Em to Fish Guide Service 210-771-0123 barrydodd.tetf@gmail.com www.teachemtofish.net TIPS: “Water temperature is cold and the bass and crappie are in their winter patterns. Most fish are deep off sharp drop-offs with ledges and brush. The best fishing occurs just before frontal passage and after winds return from the south. Slower lure presentations and smaller baits work best this time of year. The brush and sharp drop-offs along with bluffs (which hold warmth and block wind) cause this area to hold fish. I like to fish this area using drop-shot and jigs. Crappie and largemouth in good number are caught in this area.”

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GPS: N 28 45.2159, W 97 11.1659 (28.7536, -97.1861)

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK JANUARY 2017

Tides and Prime Times

USING THE PRIME TIMES CALENDAR

The following pages contain TIDE and SOLUNAR predictions for Galveston Channel (29.3166° N, 94.88° W).

T12

T4

T11

T10 T9

TIDE PREDICTIONS are located in the upper white boxes on the Calendar Pages. Use the Correction Table below, which is keyed to 23 other tide stations, to adjust low and high tide times.

T8 T17

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY is shown in the lower color boxes of the Calendar pages. Use the SOLUNAR ADJUSTMENT SCALE below to adjust times for points East and West of Galveston Channel.

T15 T16

TIDE PREDICTIONS are shown in graph form, with High and Low tide predictions in text immediately below.

SOLUNAR ACTIVITY data is provided to indicate major and minor feeding periods for each day, as the daily phases of the moon have varying degrees of influence on many wildlife species.

T13 T6

T7

T3 T2 T1

T5

T14

AM & PM MINOR phases occur when the moon rises and sets. These phases last 1 to 2 hours.

T18

AM & PM MAJOR phases occur when the moon reaches its highest point overhead as well as when it is “underfoot” or at its highest point on the exact opposite side of the earth from your positoin (or literally under your feet). Most days have two Major Feeding Phases, each lasting about 2 hours.

T19

T20

PEAK DAYS: The closer the moon is to your location, the stronger the influence. FULL or NEW MOONS provide the strongest influnce of the month.

PEAK TIMES: When a Solunar Period falls within 30 minutes to an hour of sunrise or sunset, anticipate increased action. A moon rise or moon set during one of these periods will cause even greater action. If a FULL or NEW MOON occurs during a Solunar Period, expect the best action of the season.

T21

TIDE CORRECTION TABLE

Add or subtract the time shown at the rightof the Tide Stations on this table (and map) to determine the adjustment from the time shown for GALVESTON CHANNEL in the calendars.

KEY T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6

PLACE Sabine Bank Lighthouse Sabine Pass Jetty Sabine Pass Mesquite Pt, Sab. Pass Galveston Bay, S. Jetty Port Bolivar

HIGH -1:46 -1:26 -1:00 -0:04 -0:39 +0:14

LOW -1:31 -1:31 -1:15 -0:25 -1:05 -0:06

KEY PLACE HIGH Galveston Channel/Bays T7 Texas City Turning Basin +0:33 +3:54 T8 Eagle Point +6:05 T9 Clear Lake +10:21 T10 Morgans Point T11 Round Pt, Trinity Bay +10:39

LOW +0:41 +4:15 +6:40 +5:19 +5:15

KEY T12 T13 T14 T15 T16 T17

PLACE Pt Barrow, Trinity Bay Gilchrist, East Bay Jamaica Beach, W. Bay Alligator Point, W. Bay Christmas Pt Galveston Pleasure Pier

HIGH +5:48 +3:16 +2:38 +2:39 +2:32 -1:06

LOW +4:43 +4:18 +3:31 +2:33 +2:31 -1:06

KEY T18 T19 T20 T21 T22 T23

PLACE HIGH San Luis Pass -0.09 Freeport Harbor -0:44 Pass Cavallo 0:00 Aransas Pass -0:03 Padre Island (So. End) -0:24 Port Isabel +1:02

LOW -0.09 -1:02 -1:20 -1:31 -1:45 -0:42

SPORTSMAN’S DAYBOOK IS SPONSORED BY:

NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION T22 T23

READING THE GRAPH

= FALLING TIDE = RISING TIDE = DAYLIGHT HOURS = NIGHTTIME HOURS

Moon l Moon Overhead l Underfoot

Fishing Score Graph

Day’s Best Day’s 2nd Score Best Score

n

Best Day Overall

MOON PHASES

l = New Moon l = Full Moon = First Quarter º » = Last Quarter «= Good Day by Moon Phase 72

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JANUARY 2017

Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

26 FEET

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:27 AM 7:30 AM 3:38 PM 8:43 PM

TUESDAY

27 «

1.07ft.

-0.36ft.

1.26ft.

0.89ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:52 AM 8:05 AM 4:12 PM 9:18 PM

WEDNESDAY

28 l

1.06ft.

-0.43ft.

1.28ft.

0.91ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

1:15 AM 8:40 AM 4:45 PM 9:50 PM

THURSDAY

29 «

1.06ft.

-0.47ft.

1.27ft.

0.92ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

1:35 AM 9:16 AM 5:18 PM 10:23 PM

FRIDAY

30 «

1.04ft.

-0.48ft.

1.26ft.

0.92ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

1:56 AM 9:52 AM 5:51 PM 11:00 PM

1.03ft.

-0.46ft.

1.24ft.

0.90ft.

SATURDAY

31 « High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

2:23 AM 10:29 AM 6:33 PM 11:42 PM

1.00ft.

-0.42ft.

1.22ft.

0.91ft.

SUNDAY

Jan 1

High Tide: 2:49 AM 0.99ft.

Low Tide: 11:09 AM -0.37ft.

High Tide: 7:08 PM 1.19ft.

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

0

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

PRIME TIME

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

PRIME TIME

12a

6a

12p

6p

PRIME TIME

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

10:30A — 12:30P

4:00 — 6:00 AM

4:30 — 6:30 AM

5:00 — 7:00 AM

5:30 — 7:30 AM

6:00 — 8:00 AM

6:30 — 8:30 AM

Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 5:27p Moonrise: 4:46a Set: 3:50p AM Minor: 2:33a AM Major: 8:45a PM Minor: 2:57p PM Major: 9:08p Moon Overhead: 10:19a Moon Underfoot: 10:42p

Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 5:28p Moonrise: 5:38a Set: 4:33p AM Minor: 3:16a AM Major: 9:28a PM Minor: 3:40p PM Major: 9:51p Moon Overhead: 11:06a Moon Underfoot: 11:30p

Sunrise: 7:12a Set: 5:28p Moonrise: 6:28a Set: 5:21p AM Minor: 4:01a AM Major: 10:13a PM Minor: 4:25p PM Major: 10:38p Moon Overhead: 11:55a Moon Underfoot: None

Sunrise: 7:12a Set: 5:29p Moonrise: 7:18a Set: 6:11p AM Minor: 4:49a AM Major: 11:02a PM Minor: 5:14p PM Major: 11:26p Moon Overhead: 12:44p Moon Underfoot: 12:19a

Sunrise: 7:12a Set: 5:29p Moonrise: 8:05a Set: 7:04p AM Minor: 5:40a AM Major: 11:24a PM Minor: 6:05p PM Major: ----Moon Overhead: 1:34p Moon Underfoot: 1:09a

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:30p Moonrise: 8:50a Set: 8:00p AM Minor: 6:34a AM Major: 12:21a PM Minor: 6:58p PM Major: 12:46p Moon Overhead: 2:23p Moon Underfoot: 1:59a

Sunrise: 7:12a Set: 5:30p Moonrise: 9:32a Set: 8:56p AM Minor: 7:28a AM Major: 1:15a PM Minor: 7:52p PM Major: 1:40p Moon Overhead: 3:13p Moon Underfoot: 2:48a

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

2 FEET

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

4:15 AM 11:26 AM 3:40 PM 10:07 PM

TUESDAY

3

0.26ft.

0.76ft.

0.56ft.

1.00ft.

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

4:57 AM 12:46 PM 4:56 PM 10:37 PM

WEDNESDAY

4

0.08ft.

0.87ft.

0.69ft.

0.99ft.

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

5:35 AM 1:44 PM 6:10 PM 11:05 PM

THURSDAY

5º

-0.09ft.

0.99ft.

0.78ft.

0.98ft.

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

6:12 AM 2:28 PM 7:09 PM 11:30 PM

FRIDAY

6

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

-0.24ft.

1.08ft.

0.83ft.

0.99ft.

6:48 AM 3:05 PM 7:54 PM 11:55 PM

SATURDAY

7

-0.38ft.

1.15ft.

0.87ft.

1.00ft.

Low Tide: 7:25 AM -0.50ft.

High Tide: 3:37 PM 1.20ft.

Low Tide: 8:29 PM 0.89ft.

SUNDAY

8

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:22 AM 8:03 AM 4:07 PM 8:59 PM

1.03ft.

-0.59ft.

1.23ft.

0.90ft.

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

0

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

PRIME TIME

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

PRIME TIME

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

PRIME TIME

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

7:30 — 9:30 AM

8:30 — 10:30 AM

5:00 — 7:00 PM

5:30 — 7:30 PM

6:00 — 8:00 PM

7:00 — 9:00 PM

7:30 — 9:30 PM

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:31p Moonrise: 10:13a Set: 9:54p AM Minor: 8:23a AM Major: 2:10a PM Minor: 8:47p PM Major: 2:35p Moon Overhead: 4:02p Moon Underfoot: 3:37a

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:32p Moonrise: 10:53a Set: 10:53p AM Minor: 9:17a AM Major: 3:05a PM Minor: 9:42p PM Major: 3:29p Moon Overhead: 4:51p Moon Underfoot: 4:26a

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:33p Moonrise: 11:32a Set: 11:53p AM Minor: 10:11a AM Major: 3:58a PM Minor: 10:35p PM Major: 4:23p Moon Overhead: 5:40p Moon Underfoot: 5:15a

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:33p Moonrise: 12:12p Set: None AM Minor: 11:02a AM Major: 4:50a PM Minor: 11:28p PM Major: 5:15p Moon Overhead: 6:30p Moon Underfoot: 6:05a

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:34p Moonrise: 12:53p Set: 12:54a AM Minor: 11:53a AM Major: 5:40a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 6:06p Moon Overhead: 7:22p Moon Underfoot: 6:56a

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:35p Moonrise: 1:36p Set: 1:57a AM Minor: 12:16a AM Major: 6:30a PM Minor: 12:43p PM Major: 6:57p Moon Overhead: 8:17p Moon Underfoot: 7:49a

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:36p Moonrise: 2:24p Set: 3:02a AM Minor: 1:05a AM Major: 7:19a PM Minor: 1:34p PM Major: 7:48p Moon Overhead: 9:13p Moon Underfoot: 8:45a

MONDAY

9

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

MOON PHASES

= FALLING TIDE = RISING TIDE = DAYLIGHT HOURS = NIGHTTIME HOURS Fishing Score Moon l Overhead l Moon Graph Underfoot

READING THE GRAPH

FEET

12p

PRIME TIME

12:56 AM 8:41 AM 4:39 PM 9:32 PM

TUESDAY

10

1.06ft.

-0.65ft.

1.25ft.

0.88ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

1:35 AM 9:22 AM 5:12 PM 10:10 PM

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

11 «

1.08ft.

-0.67ft.

1.25ft.

0.84ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

2:22 AM 10:05 AM 5:46 PM 10:54 PM

Day’s 2nd Best Score

THURSDAY

12 «

1.08ft.

-0.64ft.

1.23ft.

0.77ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

n

3:16 AM 10:50 AM 6:23 PM 11:45 PM

l = New Moon l = Full Moon = First Quarter º » = Last Quarter « = Good Day by Moon Phase

Best Day Overall

FRIDAY

13 ¡

1.06ft.

-0.55ft.

1.19ft.

0.67ft.

High Tide: 4:20 AM 0.99ft.

Low Tide: 11:37 AM -0.39ft.

High Tide: 7:00 PM 1.15ft.

SATURDAY

14 « Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

12:43 AM 5:38 AM 12:28 PM 7:38 PM

0.52ft.

0.91ft.

-0.18ft.

1.10ft.

SUNDAY

15 « Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

1:45 AM 7:15 AM 1:24 PM 8:17 PM

0.34ft.

0.84ft.

0.07ft.

1.06ft.

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

0

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

PRIME TIME

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

PRIME TIME

12a

6a

12p

6p

PRIME TIME

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

9:00 — 11:00 PM

10:00P — 12:00A

10:30P — 12:30A

11:00P — 1:00M

6:00 — 8:00 AM

1:00 — 3:00 AM

2:00 — 4:00 AM

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:36p Moonrise: 3:16p Set: 4:07a AM Minor: 1:56a AM Major: 8:10a PM Minor: 2:25p PM Major: 8:40p Moon Overhead: 10:12p Moon Underfoot: 9:43a

Sunrise: 7:14a Set: 5:37p Moonrise: 4:12p Set: 5:12a AM Minor: 2:49a AM Major: 9:04a PM Minor: 3:19p PM Major: 9:34p Moon Overhead: 11:13p Moon Underfoot: 10:42a

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:38p Moonrise: 5:13p Set: 6:13a AM Minor: 3:44a AM Major: 9:59a PM Minor: 4:14p PM Major: 10:29p Moon Overhead: None Moon Underfoot: 11:43a

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:39p Moonrise: 6:16p Set: 7:10a AM Minor: 4:42a AM Major: 10:57a PM Minor: 5:12p PM Major: 11:26p Moon Overhead: 12:12a Moon Underfoot: 12:42p

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:40p Moonrise: 7:18p Set: 8:02a AM Minor: 5:42a AM Major: 11:56a PM Minor: 6:10p PM Major: ----Moon Overhead: 1:11a Moon Underfoot: 1:39p

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:40p Moonrise: 8:20p Set: 8:49a AM Minor: 6:41a AM Major: 12:28a PM Minor: 7:08p PM Major: 12:54p Moon Overhead: 2:06a Moon Underfoot: 2:32p

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:41p Moonrise: 9:19p Set: 9:31a AM Minor: 7:39a AM Major: 1:26a PM Minor: 8:04p PM Major: 1:51p Moon Overhead: 2:58a Moon Underfoot: 3:23p

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Sportsman’s DAYBOOK MONDAY

16 FEET

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

2:47 AM 9:05 AM 2:27 PM 8:56 PM

TUESDAY

17

0.12ft.

0.84ft.

0.32ft.

1.02ft.

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

3:47 AM 10:52 AM 3:42 PM 9:38 PM

WEDNESDAY

18

-0.10ft.

0.92ft.

0.55ft.

1.00ft.

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

4:45 AM 12:21 PM 5:05 PM 10:23 PM

THURSDAY

19

-0.30ft.

1.03ft.

0.70ft.

1.00ft.

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

5:39 AM 1:31 PM 6:25 PM 11:10 PM

FRIDAY

20 »

-0.47ft.

1.14ft.

0.79ft.

1.01ft.

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

6:30 AM 2:27 PM 7:29 PM 11:59 PM

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

21

22

Low Tide: 7:19 AM -0.66ft.

High Tide: 3:15 PM 1.23ft.

Low Tide: 8:16 PM 0.84ft.

-0.59ft.

1.21ft.

0.83ft.

1.03ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

12:47 AM 8:05 AM 3:57 PM 8:54 PM

1.05ft.

-0.67ft.

1.21ft.

0.81ft.

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

0

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

PRIME TIME

6p

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

PRIME TIME

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

PRIME TIME

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

2:30 — 4:30 AM

3:00 — 5:00 AM

4:00 — 6:00 AM

5:30 — 7:30 PM

6:00 — 8:00 PM

8:30 — 10:30 AM

9:30 — 11:30 AM

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:42p Moonrise: 10:15p Set: 10:10a AM Minor: 8:34a AM Major: 2:22a PM Minor: 8:57p PM Major: 2:45p Moon Overhead: 3:47a Moon Underfoot: 4:11p

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:43p Moonrise: 11:10p Set: 10:47a AM Minor: 9:25a AM Major: 3:14a PM Minor: 9:48p PM Major: 3:37p Moon Overhead: 4:34a Moon Underfoot: 4:56p

Sunrise: 7:13a Set: 5:44p Moonrise: None Set: 11:21a AM Minor: 10:14a AM Major: 4:03a PM Minor: 10:36p PM Major: 4:25p Moon Overhead: 5:18a Moon Underfoot: 5:40p

Sunrise: 7:12a Set: 5:45p Moonrise: 12:03a Set: 11:56a AM Minor: 10:59a AM Major: 4:48a PM Minor: 11:21p PM Major: 5:10p Moon Overhead: 6:02a Moon Underfoot: 6:23p

Sunrise: 7:12a Set: 5:46p Moonrise: 12:55a Set: 12:31p AM Minor: 11:42a AM Major: 5:31a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 5:53p Moon Overhead: 6:45a Moon Underfoot: 7:07p

Sunrise: 7:12a Set: 5:46p Moonrise: 1:47a Set: 1:07p AM Minor: 12:02a AM Major: 6:13a PM Minor: 12:24p PM Major: 6:35p Moon Overhead: 7:29a Moon Underfoot: 7:51p

Sunrise: 7:12a Set: 5:47p Moonrise: 2:38a Set: 1:46p AM Minor: 12:42a AM Major: 6:54a PM Minor: 1:05p PM Major: 7:17p Moon Overhead: 8:14a Moon Underfoot: 8:36p

MONDAY

23

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

MOON PHASES

= FALLING TIDE = RISING TIDE = DAYLIGHT HOURS = NIGHTTIME HOURS Fishing Score Moon l Overhead l Moon Graph Underfoot

READING THE GRAPH

FEET

12p

PRIME TIME

1:33 AM 8:50 AM 4:34 PM 9:28 PM

TUESDAY

24

1.06ft.

-0.63ft.

1.18ft.

0.77ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

2:17 AM 9:32 AM 5:08 PM 10:03 PM

Day’s Best Score

WEDNESDAY

25 «

1.04ft.

-0.55ft.

1.13ft.

0.71ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

3:01 AM 10:13 AM 5:39 PM 10:43 PM

Day’s 2nd Best Score

THURSDAY

26 «

1.01ft.

-0.43ft.

1.09ft.

0.63ft.

High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide:

n

3:46 AM 10:53 AM 6:10 PM 11:27 PM

l = New Moon l = Full Moon = First Quarter º » = Last Quarter « = Good Day by Moon Phase

Best Day Overall

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

27 l

0.95ft.

-0.28ft.

1.05ft.

0.54ft.

28 «

High Tide: 4:37 AM 0.87ft.

Low Tide: 11:33 AM -0.11ft.

High Tide: 6:40 PM 1.01ft.

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

12:16 AM 5:39 AM 12:13 PM 7:10 PM

SUNDAY

29 «

0.44ft.

0.79ft.

0.08ft.

0.98ft.

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

1:09 AM 7:02 AM 12:55 PM 7:40 PM

0.34ft.

0.71ft.

0.28ft.

0.94ft.

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

0

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

PRIME TIME

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

10:00A — 12:00P

11:00A — 1:00P

4:00 — 6:00 AM

5:00 — 7:00 AM

5:30 — 7:30 AM

6:00 — 8:00 AM

6:30 — 8:30 AM

Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 5:48p Moonrise: 3:30a Set: 2:28p AM Minor: 1:23a AM Major: 7:35a PM Minor: 1:47p PM Major: 7:58p Moon Overhead: 9:00a Moon Underfoot: 9:24p

Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 5:49p Moonrise: 4:21a Set: 3:14p AM Minor: 2:05a AM Major: 8:17a PM Minor: 2:29p PM Major: 8:41p Moon Overhead: 9:48a Moon Underfoot: 10:12p

Sunrise: 7:11a Set: 5:50p Moonrise: 5:11a Set: 4:03p AM Minor: 2:49a AM Major: 9:01a PM Minor: 3:13p PM Major: 9:26p Moon Overhead: 10:37a Moon Underfoot: 11:02p

Sunrise: 7:10a Set: 5:51p Moonrise: 5:59a Set: 4:56p AM Minor: 3:34a AM Major: 9:47a PM Minor: 4:00p PM Major: 10:12p Moon Overhead: 11:27a Moon Underfoot: 11:52p

Sunrise: 7:10a Set: 5:52p Moonrise: 6:46a Set: 5:52p AM Minor: 4:23a AM Major: 10:35a PM Minor: 4:48p PM Major: 11:01p Moon Overhead: 12:18p Moon Underfoot: None

Sunrise: 7:09a Set: 5:53p Moonrise: 7:31a Set: 6:49p AM Minor: 5:13a AM Major: 10:57a PM Minor: 5:39p PM Major: ----Moon Overhead: 1:08p Moon Underfoot: 12:43a

Sunrise: 7:09a Set: 5:53p Moonrise: 8:13a Set: 7:48p AM Minor: 6:06a AM Major: 11:50a PM Minor: 6:31p PM Major: 12:19p Moon Overhead: 1:58p Moon Underfoot: 1:33a

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JANUARY 2017

Tides and Prime Times MONDAY

30 «

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide: FEET

2:04 AM 8:55 AM 1:42 PM 8:09 PM

0.22ft.

0.69ft.

0.47ft.

0.91ft.

TUESDAY

Jan 31 Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

2:59 AM 10:57 AM 2:42 PM 8:37 PM

0.10ft.

0.74ft.

0.64ft.

0.89ft.

WEDNESDAY

Feb 1 Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

3:51 AM 12:32 PM 4:06 PM 9:03 PM

-0.02ft.

0.85ft.

0.77ft.

0.88ft.

THURSDAY

2

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

4:40 AM 1:33 PM 5:46 PM 9:31 PM

-0.14ft.

0.95ft.

0.84ft.

0.89ft.

FRIDAY

3º Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

5:26 AM 2:14 PM 6:56 PM 10:12 PM

-0.26ft.

1.04ft.

0.88ft.

0.92ft.

SATURDAY

4

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

6:10 AM 2:45 PM 7:30 PM 11:03 PM

SUNDAY

-0.37ft.

1.11ft.

0.89ft.

0.97ft.

5

Low Tide: High Tide: Low Tide: High Tide:

6:54 AM 3:12 PM 7:55 PM 11:58 PM

-0.47ft.

1.16ft.

0.88ft.

1.03ft.

FEET

+3.0

+3.0

+2.0

+2.0

+1.0

+1.0 0

0

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

6a

PRIME TIME

12p

6p

PRIME TIME

12a

6a

12p

6p

PRIME TIME

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

PRIME TIME

12a

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

6a

12p

6p

12a

PRIME TIME

2:00 — 4:00 PM

2:30 — 4:30 PM

3:30 — 5:30 PM

4:00 — 6:00 PM

5:00 — 7:00 PM

6:00 — 8:00 PM

7:00 — 9:00 PM

Sunrise: 7:08a Set: 5:54p Moonrise: 8:54a Set: 8:47p AM Minor: 7:00a AM Major: 12:48a PM Minor: 7:25p PM Major: 1:13p Moon Overhead: 2:48p Moon Underfoot: 2:23a

Sunrise: 7:08a Set: 5:55p Moonrise: 9:33a Set: 9:47p AM Minor: 7:56a AM Major: 1:43a PM Minor: 8:20p PM Major: 2:08p Moon Overhead: 3:38p Moon Underfoot: 3:13a

Sunrise: 7:07a Set: 5:56p Moonrise: 10:13a Set: 10:48p AM Minor: 8:51a AM Major: 2:39a PM Minor: 9:16p PM Major: 3:04p Moon Overhead: 4:28p Moon Underfoot: 4:03a

Sunrise: 7:07a Set: 5:57p Moonrise: 10:53a Set: 11:50p AM Minor: 9:47a AM Major: 3:34a PM Minor: 10:12p PM Major: 3:59p Moon Overhead: 5:18p Moon Underfoot: 4:53a

Sunrise: 7:06a Set: 5:58p Moonrise: 11:35a Set: None AM Minor: 10:42a AM Major: 4:28a PM Minor: 11:08p PM Major: 4:55p Moon Overhead: 6:11p Moon Underfoot: 5:45a

Sunrise: 7:05a Set: 5:59p Moonrise: 12:19p Set: 12:53a AM Minor: 11:36a AM Major: 5:22a PM Minor: ----PM Major: 5:49p Moon Overhead: 7:06p Moon Underfoot: 6:38a

Sunrise: 7:05a Set: 5:59p Moonrise: 1:08p Set: 1:56a AM Minor: 12:01a AM Major: 6:15a PM Minor: 12:29p PM Major: 6:43p Moon Overhead: 8:02p Moon Underfoot: 7:34a

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Texas BOATING

by LENNY RUDOW :: TF&G Boating Editor

She Speaks

come loose, and parts start rubbing back and forth against each other. Use your ear to pinpoint the whiny parts, and address the issue immediately.

Surging that you hear from your engine (while the throttle remains static) is often a fuel problem. A restriction in the lines, clogged filter(s), a closed or plugged tank vent, or a virtually empty fuel tank can all cause that sound. Note: if there’s water or contaminants in the fuel there usually won’t be a surge, but instead a sudden shut-down.

So ensure a steady supply of gas, when you hear that surging.

Pitter-patters from above on your hard top or T-top can mean any number of things: an antenna may have fallen down, the radome may have lost a bolt, or perhaps a wire to the running lights came free and is tapping the top.

Whatever the cause, when you hear a sound from above you need to stop and investigate. Since the top of a hard or T-top is out of sight and out of mind, it’s common for things like backed-out screws or corroding connections to go unnoticed up there—that sound you hear may be the only way you’ll ever know something’s wrong, until something fails to work.

Every modern outboard manufacturer uses audible alarms, and when they go off, obviously, you need to listen up. In this case, however, you’ll also need to use your eyes to determine the issue.

Large, expensive motors usually display alarm data right at the helm. Many smaller outboards use audible beeps combined with the speed or number of times a light flashes, to communicate the specific problem. If you don’t know what those beeps and flashes are trying to tell you reach for your smart-phone, because the answer can almost always be found on Google.

A gravelly rattling or grinding noise coming from below deck probably means you have a pump that’s about to go kaput. Isolate the issue by shutting down everything with a pump, from your raw water wash-down to your livewell to your bilge pump. Then turn

S

HHH… IF YOU LISTEN closely, you can hear her talking.

She’s trying to tell you something.

Yes, your boat does have the power to communicate with you—but only if you’re willing to listen.

Squeaking noises coming from a place where two pieces of molded fiberglass are joined is a sure sign of loosening fasteners.

When you hear these squeaks, identify the exact location or seam where they’re created.

Then check screws, through-bolts, and other fasteners for tightness.

The same is true of T-top legs where they meet and are affixed to the deck or console.

Finally, if your boat has a cabin you may hear the same telltale squeaking from cabinetry that’s loosened and is rubbing at the joints.

Howling sounds coming from the propeller are your boat trying to tell you the trim is set too high, and the prop is sucking air.

Ventilation (as opposed to cavitation, which causes vibration as well as an audible noise) makes a very distinct sound that’s louder and deeper than the engine’s usual hum.

It’s important to listen for this, too, because ventilation can cause a drop in speed, your engine to overheat, and/or a loss of power and control in sharp turns. When you hear that howl, take the trim down a notch.

Engine whines that come and go in different RPM ranges may be bad belts—just like in your car or truck. But listen closely when you can just barely hear that sound, especially at very low (vibration-rich) RPM ranges, because there’s another possibility with rather serious repercussions. The bolts and washers securing the steering arm to the actuator on some outboards can make a quieter but very belt-like sound when they

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them on, one by one, until you hear that sound once again.

In the case of pumps with external strainers, the issue may be a stray pebble or piece of plastic that got sucked in and blasting them out with a hose may do the trick. But if the pump is contained or if a blast from the hose has no effect, get ready to replace that pump—complete failure is probably not far away.

Keep your RPM up, if you hear your outboard engine stall whenever it’s in neutral and you shift back to idle speed. If it will keep running at elevated RPM—yet stalls right back out when you go to neutral to shift into gear, quite often the AIC valve is the culprit.

These tend to get clogged over time, and while the engine will otherwise run just fine, at idle it will stall every time. To get home, keep RPM up at around 1,800 or 2,000, then shift back to neutral, straight into forward gear, and right back up to 2,000 or so RPM in one swift motion.

Yes, this is hard on the transmission and you certainly don’t want to make a habit out of it. But this technique will keep the engine running so you can make it back to the dock.

Sudden over-revving of the engine is obvious to the ear. If it’s the result of wake-jumping, your boat is telling you that you’re going too fast for the conditions.

What if you hear a sudden over-rev while traveling on calm waters? It could be the result of “spinning out” the hub of your propeller. When that rubber insert inside the hub gives way, RPM often shoots through the roof. In some cases you may be able to back off on the throttle, let the rubber get a fresh grip, and then get moving again.

But if you get this lucky, don’t push it and try to go fast. Instead, go home slowly as you count your blessings. Once that hub spins out, it almost always happens again soon.

Email Lenny Rudow at ContactUs@fishgame.com

G A M E ®

12/6/16 11:44 AM

The BASS University

by PETE ROBBINS :: for TF&G and Bass University

Pre-Spawn Cold Fronts and Florida Strain Bass

F

EW IF ANY ANGLERS HAVE benefitted as much from Florida strain bass as much as California pro Ish Monroe. As the only angler who’s won tour-level events in California, Texas and Florida, the proof is in his bank account, but as much as he likes these faster-growing, oversized versions of their northern counterparts, he’s also been burned by them on occasion.

“They’re more temperamental,” he said.

“It’s kind of like people who live in Florida. To them, 75 degrees is cold. The Florida strains are most affected in Florida, but it doesn’t matter if you’re in Alabama, California or Texas. It still changes their entire mood. It’s just the way they are.”

Whether you’re fishing a multiple-day event or just have one weekend day off to fish a lake loaded with Florida strains, it’s rare that the weather will line up perfectly for a beginning-to-end slugfest. In fact, you’re more likely to have adverse conditions, so Ish has developed a strategy for dealing with these finicky giants.

“You’ve got to go to the heaviest cover,” he said. “Put a blanket on them. It keeps them sane.” While he’s a swimbait guru and also loves to throw the big Whopper Plopper for prespawn toads, he puts the moving baits away when confronted by these conditions.

“It’s all about punching. They’re not going to come out for it.”

If you’re fishing a grass lake, that means finding the seemingly impenetrable cover and finding a way to penetrate it.

“You’re still keying on the ambush points,” he said. “Look for the thickest part where it gets topped out, where there’s an algae bloom happening on top of the grass.”

If you’re fishing a grassless trophy factory like Falcon, key on bushes instead, once

again looking for the thickest specimens. He believes that isolated bushes usually produce the largest fish, while stretches of bushes are more likely to give up numbers. Once again, it he can find areas where algae has gotten thick around the brush, he’ll key on the additional canopy provided in that zone.

Ish’s punching set-up consists of an 8-foot Daiwa Tatula Elite Ish Monroe Signature Series rod paired with a 7.3:1 gear ratio Zillion HD reel. While some of his colleagues have moved to faster 8:1 and 9:1 reels to gain speed on their quarry, Monroe believes that those reels typically lack the torque to winch big bass out of heavy cover so his 7.3:1 is the optimal mix of speed and power. He spools it with 65 lb. Maxima six-strand braid and uses a River2Sea tungsten “Trash Bomb” to penetrate the cover. His hook of choice if River2Sea’s New Jack Flippin’ Hook, a straight shank model that allows him to tie a snell knot, but also allows anglers who are not comfortable with the snell to tie their preferred knot to a welded line tie on the hook shank to achieve the same impact.

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In order to penetrate the thick cover without hanging up, yet still provide a meaningful meal, his lure of choice is almost exclusively the Missile Baits D Bomb, a 4-inch beaver style bait with a ribbed body. In Florida, where “cold fronts affect the fish a whole lot more than they do in Texas or Alabama,” he generally relies on mixtures of black and blue, like Bruiser or Bruiser Flash. Outside of the Sunshine State, he still likes those hues under the darkness of the mats, but he’ll also rotate in some more natural colors, including various shades of green pumpkin.

In more favorable conditions, when bass are more actively feeding or defending their territory, these punching fish are often patternable. Monroe said that he’s found scenarios where they’ll eat his lure exclusively on the fall, or on the first twitch, or on the second hop. That enables him to maximize the effectiveness of each flip. In cold front situations, though, he said that Florida strains often provide him with “no pattern at all.” Then he added that “Slowing down is the only pattern.”

When you know that bass are scattered over a half mile of grass, it can be tough to really soak a lure in place, but he believes that it’s the only solution if you want to get the right kind of bites. That doesn’t mean, however, that they won’t alter their behavior of their locations slightly as conditions change throughout the day. “Most of the time you’ll find them on the bottom, but when the sun pops out they might come to the top of the mat.”

Because Florida strain bass are so moody, Monroe cautions anglers to be ready to downshift and make this switch any time there’s a meaningful pre-spawn cold front.

“It can happen in 80 degrees temperatures or 50 degree temperatures,” he said. “Going from 80 to 72 is the same as going from 50 to 42. It just happens, so you have to be prepared for it.”

If you want to learn more of Ish Monroe’s winning secrets, be sure to check out his full seminar video by subscribing to www.bassu.tv.

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The Practical ANGLER

by GREG BERLOCHER | TF&G Contributing Editor

Biting Whiting

trip because you don’t have the perfect outfit.

Terminal tackle needed to bag a box of whiting is as simple as it comes. A basic bottom rig is all you need. Beginning fishermen are often tempted to buy pre-made steel leaders, adorned with obnoxiously bright red beads.

I recommend that you save your money and learn to tie your own bottom rig. Cut off a piece of 20-pound test monofilament, fold it in half, and tie an overhand knot where the line is folded. This creates a loop in the line, with two tags hanging below the loop.

Tie on some sort of weight to the long tag and some sort of hook to the shorter tag. The exact dimensions don’t matter, nor the length of the tags. I will make up two or three rigs ahead of time and drop them into a sandwich bag, which I then tuck into my short pocket. That’s all you need to tangle with some whiting.

As noted earlier, whiting have relatively small mouths so hook size is more important than hook style. Small treble hooks (Sizes 10 to 8) are good choices, and long shanked single hooks are also good. Hemostats and needle nose piers are great aids when dislodging a deeply hooked fish.

Whiting are active eaters and will absolutely hammer a bait soaking on the bottom.

If you have a young charge at home who would like to learn how to fish, this is a great fish to learn on.

There isn’t anything involved other than casting and setting the hook. Whiting are not known for their subtlety when they bite.

Neophyte angers will have no trouble detecting a bite.

Whiting will eat a wide variety of baits.

Dead shrimp is a good choice and is readily available up and down the coast. To stretch your bait budget, pinch the shrimp into two or three pieces and bait your hook with a small portion.

Squid is another good option and will stand up to repeated abuse from hungry whiting. Make sure you pack a pocketknife and cut the squid into thin strips.

Gut studies reveal that whiting also eat

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ENTICIRRHUS AMERICAnus is a sleek fish with a humped back and sharply tapered snout.

Their underslung mouth is small and designed for taking their meals on the bottom.

Whiting are members of the drum family, and the family tree includes speckled trout, redfish, black drum, and croaker—all tasty by my standards.

Whiting don’t get a lot of love on the Texas coast because of their relatively small stature; most fish range in size from 10 to 16 inches. What they lack in size, they make up for in attitude. There is no mistaking when you have a bite.

My favorite time of year to catch whiting is January and February. After a dismal stretch of winter weather, nothing refreshes my sprit more than spending time outdoors in the bright sunshine, under bluebird skies.

Driving a ten-mile stretch of beach and not seeing another person is an added bonus.

Whiting are bottom feeders and dine on benthic invertebrates, small crustaceans, and polychaete worms, all of which are found on, or near the bottom. Whiting favor “high energy areas,” such as the surf zone, where tumbling waves wash away layers of sand and expose the groceries that whiting favor.

A whiting’s under-slung mouth increases their efficiency at picking up meals off the bottom as they dash into the after-wash of a crashing wave.

Practically any rod and reel can be used to catch whiting. This isn’t a finesse game.

However, longer casts do pay dividends.

Light, limber rods with reels loaded with fresh, limp line allow you to cast farther.

Longer rods provide more leverage than do shorter sticks, but don’t pass up a whiting

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small fish. From personal experience, I can attest they will readily strike small lures and soft plastics.

My “go to” lure for whiting is a “beetle style” soft plastic with a crystal clear plastic body that has a light touch of silver glitter. I like to use ¼ ounce jig heads and generally fish a double jig rig.

To tie your own double jig rig, tie up a bottom rig described above and substitute jig heads on each dropper. Cast your jigs into a trough beyond a sand bar and allow them to settle to the bottom. Retrieve them slowly to keep them near the bottom, twitching your rod tip periodically.

A pair of chest waders is a valued ally for winter whiting, allowing you to stay dry while you cast from shin- to waist-deep water.

Croaker and whiting have traditionally made up a large percentage of the bycatch in shrimper’s trawls. TPWD’s buyback program reduced the number of bay shrimpers dragging the bottoms of our bay systems, which in turn reduced the number of juvenile croaker and whiting being killed. TPWD gillnet studies reveal a significant increase in the populations of both species over the last few years.

Whiting are considered an under utilized species by TPWD and there are no daily size or bag limits. If the winter doldrums have you down, grab your rod and head to the beach.

The whiting will be waiting for you.

Email Greg Berlocher at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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12/6/16 12:36 PM

Texas GUNS

by STEVE LAMASCUS | TF&G Shooting Editor

Favorite Deer Rifles

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KILLED MY FIRST DEER IN 1970, I think. I shot it at about 125 yards with my father’s custom Model 98 Mauser in 7x57mm caliber. I don’t remember the load I used, but it was probably a Federal factory load firing a139-grain bullet at about 2,800 feet per second. One shot did the trick.

Since that day I have shot far more than my fair share of deer. Many of these were shot on ranches trying to control the deer population and did not count on my license. Over the years I have used an immense number of different cartridges. I have always been an experimenter and generally have a couple of new rifles or cartridge that I need to test on game. Luckily I have had many friends with property who would gladly allow me to follow my star. In addition to deer, hogs have also been a wonderful testing ground for my rifles.

Over the years that I have been a professional outdoor writer, I have written very little about the .270 Winchester. That is because no one likes to follow on the heels of the late, great, Professor Jack O’Connor, whose totem was the .270 and about which he wrote many thousands of words. What he said about this magnificent cartridge cannot be improved upon by me or any other modern writer. However, this does not lessen its quality. If there is a better cartridge purely for deer hunting, I don’t know what it would be.

The .270, firing a 130-grain bullet at up to 3,200 feet per second, is second to none. It is probably the one cartridge that I would bet on for instantaneous one-shot kills on deer, and that includes many cartridges that have more power on paper. When I am serious about killing a deer, I will have a .270 in my hands most of the time.

My pet load for many years has been the same load that O’Connor shot most—a 130-grain Speer soft point over 62 grains of

Hodgdon’s H4831 in Winchester cases with CCI 200 primers. In most of my guns this load has given a velocity of about 3,150 feet per second. (This is a maximum load. If you intend to use it, start with 56 or 57 grains and work up a half-grain at a time. Some guns will not take this load, so be very careful.)

I consider the .270 Winchester the perfect pure deer cartridge for Texas, and for most of the United States.

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THE FIRST ENTRY IN MY FIRST reloading journal is from October 1971. It says: .25-06, 100-grain Sierra Spitzer, 51 grains IMR 4350, MV-3,129. Now, I don’t know how I knew the velocity, since this was long before the days of personal chronographs, but it is pretty close. The new Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading says that load should be between 3,100 and 3,150 feet per second.

I have been a fan of the .25-06 for most of my life. One of the more colorful characters who shaped my life was an old ne’er-do-well in Benjamin, Texas, named Tick Moorehouse.

When I was a kid in Benjamin, Tick was mostly unemployed, but I guess he worked enough at odd jobs to keep him in powder, primers, and bullets.

He had a nice .25-06, a Mauser, I think, and with it he shot hundreds of coyotes, some at truly incredible ranges. I knew that when I grew up I wanted to have a .25-06, just like Tick’s, and the first rifle I bought with my own money was a .25-06 Remington Model 700 ADL. I bought it in a Gibson’s Discount Center in Uvalde for, if memory serves, $117.

I mounted a 4X scope on it, bought a cheap reloading outfit, and started learning to reload.

I hunted deer, bobcats, foxes, and coyotes with that one rifle, and it performed admirably on all of them. I shot it so much that in a period of less than eight years, I wore out the barrel.

Since that time I have almost always had a .2506 in my modest collection of guns.

Today I have two .25-06s. One is a Savage that I was given when I retired from the Border Patrol, and one is a full custom rifle built on a post-64 Model 70 action, with a LotharT E X A S

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Walther barrel and McMillan stock. Both will shoot three shots into less than an inch at 100

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Texas TESTED Flextone “Tine Teaser.”

Flextone Game Calls ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS I hunt is to have fun and if I can call a deer within my known accuracy range, then I consider that the epitome of fun!

Recently, I tried using some Flextone game calls. Their Extractor 4-n-1 call is a user-friendly grunt tube call that is so versatile and sounds incredible. It comes with a 3-way X-Glide system, which starts with a switch on top that can be tuned to the sound of a fawn, for those early bow hunts. The middle switch mimics the sound of a doe and the third or farthest switch is reserved for the buck grunt. The rubber corrugated throat tube certainly helps to make the sounds realistic and will not crack in colder climates, unlike some plastic ones.

As if all that were not enough, located on the upper portion of the extractor 4-n-1 grunt call, is a snort wheeze call. This will really bring the big boys in looking for a fight.

Believe me, I have heard a nice buck call like this in the woods, and the sound of this call is exact!

The only drawback I could see was that although the directions on the box explain how the different sounds work, they neglected to explain the snort wheeze sound. So for those who haven’t heard this before, blow into the call with a “phtt, phtt,

—by LOU MARULLO

Ameristep Pop-Up Blinds

pheeeeeeewwwww” and you are golden!

Another call I tried was what Flextone

Texas Guns

or 85-grain Nosler Ballistic Tips.

So now you know. My favorite deer calibers are the .270 Winchester and the .25-06. With the right loads they are dynamite on deer and neither kicks so much that it is hard to shoot well. In the .270 the customary 130-grain bullets are best, and in the .25-06 either 100- or 110-grain bullets work best. Stay away from the varmint- weight bullets and either will do you proud.

t CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

yards, push a 100-grain bullet to 3,300 feet per second, and kill deer like bolts of lightning.

The .25-06 is my idea of the perfect combination coyote/deer rifle for Texas. For deer I currently shoot 110-grain Nosler AccuBonds, and for coyotes I shoot either 87-grain Sierras 82

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has named their “Tine Teaser”.

Love this call. It has a nice nasally sound that is exactly what you want. The beautiful part of this tiny giant of a call, is that it is a “hands-free” device for those times when you need both hands on your weapon. We all know that when that moment of truth draws near, we cannot move! So, having a call already in your mouth ready to go is a big plus!

The package describes in detail how to make a buck, doe or fawn sound with this call. I recommend both of these calls for success in the deer woods.

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I HAVE USED PORTABLE “POP-UP” blinds since they were first introduced to the hunting world and Ameristep has taken them a step further.

I recently tried the Crush Silencer Blind

by Ameristep. The very first thing I noticed about this blind that sets it apart from all the others, is the easy silent entry. Every

Note: The reloading information contained in this article is safe only in the rifles of the author. Neither the author nor TEXAS FISH & GAME magazine is responsible for the use of this data.

Email Steve LaMascus at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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uncomfortable. These openings are strategically placed so the hunter can either shoot his bow or rifle while seated in the blind.

Really, really good idea!

The Crush Silencer Blind has a floor that measures 55 inches square, and is a whopping 66 inches tall. The 62 inch shooting width makes it comfortable for 2 people.

Perfect for filming a hunt or bringing a youngster who wants to share the hunt with you. It also is equipped with brush loops if you want to add some extra foliage and add

to the Realtree Xtra Camo pattern.

It looks like this is the perfect blind made for hunters, by hunters. A big improvement in portable blinds with a small price tag.

—by LOU MARULLO

Ameristep Silencer pop-up blind with split window design.

other portable blind I have seen uses a heavy zipper to open and close the entry. Not so with the “Silencer” blind. Once it is set up, which only takes seconds, you simply move a corner of the blind open and quietly step in. Good idea!

Once inside this cool blind, I noticed the unique window system. It uses slides that easily go up or down with no noise at all.

And you can do it with one hand! Sure beats the noisy zippers or Velcro that the other blinds have. The camo mesh on the outside of the window also has the same silent system. Really good idea!

Now to the feature I liked the most about the Silencer Blind. It comes with a split window design. You have the option of opening a bigger section of a window, or using the smaller, rectangular opening which is conveniently located so that a hunter who is seated inside can see out without being PHOTOS; LOU MARULLO

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12/8/16 1:41 PM

Fish and Game GEAR Textron’s Bad Boy Off Road

Consumer for Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc. Features that separate the Stampede XTR from competitors and empower drivers to do more: Exceptional power: German-engineered, precision-tuned 846cc liquid-cooled, 80HP engine packed with 59-ft-lb of torque.

Electronic fuel injection. Selectable allwheel-drive.

More storage and hauling capacity: Extended cab keeps tools and gear dry and

BAD BOY OFF ROAD, A TEXTRON Specialized Vehicles brand, has gone the extra mile so drivers can do even more with the new 80HP Stampede XTR 4x4. A gaspowered side-by-side, the Stampede XTR features four spacious, forward-facing seats and best-in-class 30 cubic feet of storage space to accommodate family and friends who enjoy working around the homestead, hunting the land or attacking trails.

easy to reach. The extra six cubic feet of under-seat space brings storage capacity to a total of 30 cubic feet, the most in class. A unique Fast-N-Latch System utilizes specially designed connection points in the bed to securely haul a variety of accessories while maximizing bed space.

Comfortable ride: 11.25 inches of ground clearance helps avoid most obstacles. A smooth ride is provided by high-quality springs, performance shocks and four-wheel double A-Arm suspension with 9.5 inches of travel in the front and 10.5 inches in the rear.

Front and rear sway bars help keep all wheels on the ground when cornering for increased traction and handling.

Superior driver experience: With a spacious 10-sq-ft opening in both the front

Bad Boy

Building on the success of the two-passenger Stampede 4x4 introduced earlier this year, the Stampede XTR has the industry-first extended cab, but with additional storage space under the front seat. Electronic power steering is standard.

The Stampede XTR also sports a new color option: Electric Blue.

“The Stampede XTR offers the industryleading Stampede features that matter most to drivers – power and a comfortable ride – plus even more space for people and to haul and store everything you need, whether you’re on a trail, on a hunt or doing chores on the farm,” said John Collins, Vice President – 84

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and back, it’s easy to get in and out of the Stampede XTR. A 40-inch unobstructed view out of the front provides a full field of vision. An industry-best 5.25- x 3.25-inch LCD display is visible in any light.

GoFish Cam GOFISH CAM IS THE NEW TECH that’s going to hook the fishing industry!

GoFish Cam, a Texas based company, launches soon with an underwater action camera that’s designed to sit on your fishing line and work with a mobile application!

The camera has a unique versatile design to allow it to be used for trolling, jigging, cast & retrieve, and bottom fishing in both fresh and salt water. It has a stabilized design, and allows anglers to record images up to 150 meters under water.

It shoots in HD 1080p and has an infrared system for night vision. Its wide-angle field of vision captures all fishing activities and an integrated microphone will reveal the underwater sounds that you do not usually hear.

This camera has been designed to be used above the lure. The camera works with a mobile application so you can review footage quick and easy; see the taking of bait, see how fish are reacting to your lure, scout areas much faster and easier, and capture and share the action in a unique way.

GoFish Cam

The underwater camera company was established in 2014 by two brothers - Brandon and Ryan Austin. They had the idea to create this underwater camera during a fishing trip where the big one got away.

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And after over a year of development and research the GoFish Cam was born.

The cameras will start shipping just in time for the holidays this year. In the meantime you can go view all the features and Pre-order a camera by following this link: www.GoFishCam.com. Use the promo code “TexasF&G” to save an additional 15% off the already marked down pricing!

Go Deep with St. Croix’s Mojo Jig JIGGING IN A SALTWATER ENVIronment is demanding…of angler and rod.

St Croix’s NEW Mojo Jig line of saltwater rods has been designed to exceed those demands. These rods have been tested from New England to the Gulf coasts to ensure each rod has the backbone needed to bring those fish up…and the action to make the bait dance…enticing those memory inducing strikes.

Mojo Jig rods feature a proprietary blend of SCII graphite with FRS technology. St. Croix’s formula, when matched with ART technology produces a lightweight blank that outperforms traditional jig rods…at an unparalleled value. Available in conventional and spinning configurations, each rod is fitted with a Fuji reel seat and corrosionresistant Sea Guide guides ensuring anglers fight the fish…not the rod. St. Croix finishes these rods with Kigan hook-keepers and pre-

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The lineup includes the H3500, H3700EFI and the H4400, which cranks out more torque and HP then any other product on the market. This advanced lineup is the easiest to operate and is the SUV of the shallow water outboard motor industry due to their long list of features, overall performance, and operability that is second to none. These reliable motors utilize cone clutch marine transmission technology that was developed to handle the high torque of V6 and V8 stern drives. The power

Tempress ProBax High-Boat Seat ACCORDING TO ALAN HEDGE, PROfessor of Ergonomics at Cornell University, it is estimated that 50% of the industrialized World will suffer some form of back complaint and many of these problems are related to poor seat design.

How we sit and what we sit on greatly affect the health of our spine. Add water chop, long hours sitting and the repetitive motion of fishing to already poor posture and most of us come off the water tired and in pain.

TEMPRESS has teamed up with leading US Spinal Surgeons and Ergonomic Experts to create the break-thru patented ProBax Seat. ProBax is the only seat clinically proven to provide optimal longterm back and upper body support.

When our pelvis and spine are oriented properly then there is very little postural stress on our bodies. Better seated posture also allows our blood to flow more freely, opens up our chest cavity, and provides us with more oxygen. Better blood and oxygen flow along with lowered body stress reduces fatigue, diminishes neck and back pain, and make us more alert for a successful hook set.

There is a direct connection between your seat, fatigue levels and back pain. Take control of your boating and fishing experience, take control of your body, and upgrade to the ProBax by TEMPRESS. Made in USA. Visit www.tempress.com.

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train is oil lubricated to provide the highest reliability, service factor, and ease of maintenance. They are loaded with exclusive standard features such as, TRUE, Instant Forward-Neutral-Reverse shifting using the toughest, highest horse-

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mium EVA handles. Dedication to details mean the guides receive an underwrap providing that extra protection before the two coats of Flex Coat slow-cure finish completes the process. Mojo Jig delivers performance driven rods anglers can afford.

Mojo Jig rods were designed in Park Falls, Wisconsin and are handcrafted in our Fresnillo, Mexico facility. They retail for $200 and come with a 5-year warranty backed by St. Croix Superstar Service.

power transmission in the industry, the Mercury Bravo which allows for full power applied in the reverse position without fear of overheating or slippage as is the case with older technologies, Mercury Built 8,300 lb., Hydraulic Trim for unmatched performance, Stainless Big Blade and Raptor Propellers, dual trim controls, tachometer, and a host of other features to help sportsmen easily navigate shallow backwaters where other mud motors struggle. All BOSS drive models can be rigged with an innovative, T E X A S

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12/6/16 11:50 AM

Texas TASTED

by BRYAN SLAVEN :: The Texas Gourmet

Roasted Cream of Five Pepper Soup

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Preparation

HIS IS A FAVORITE SOUP OF mine and my entire family. On a cold afternoon or evening, nothing will give you that savory and spicy warm feeling better than a cup of our Cream of Five pepper soup. If you don’t want it quite as spicy leave out the jalapeno. Great at the ball game or in the deer blind from your thermos too!

*To roast the peppers on a gas stove arrange the peppers on a wire rack or grid above a medium flame. Turn peppers frequently to blacken evenly on all sides. After roasting,

heat and set aside.

In a separate stockpot, add the chicken stock, heat over a medium fire, adding the roasted peppers, garlic, carrots, celery and onion. Bring to boil then reduce and simmer, covered for 20 minutes.

Remove from heat and transfer vegetables to a blender using a slotted spoon with approx.

1 cup of the broth. Blend until smooth. Remove from blender and push mixture through a sieve, and return to stock pot. Stir well then add the cream mixture.

Heat to a simmer and slowly add the cheese stirring frequently for 10 to 15 minutes Serve

Serves: 5 to 6

Ingredeints 4 Tbsp. Butter 1/2 Cup All Purpose Flour 1 Qt Half And Half 2 Cups Whole Milk 3 Cups Chicken Broth 1 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil 3 Cloves Garlic 2 Tbsp. Fresh Cilantro 1/2 Cup Carrots –Chopped 1 Stalk Celery-Chopped 1 Purple Onion Chopped 2 Poblano Peppers Roasted* And Coarsely Chopped 1 Jalapeno Pepper Roasted* and coarsely Chopped 1 Red Bell Pepper Roasted* and coarsely Chopped ½ teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 Tsp Salt 1/2 Tsp Black Pepper 1/2 Tsp White Pepper 2 Cubes Knorr’s Chicken/Tomato Bouillon Cubes 1 Cup Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese 2 Green Onions Chopped Fine And Saved For Garnish 86

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transfer to a plastic or paper bag and seal tightly until cooled (approx. 20 minutes). Remove from bag and run under cold water scraping the skin off.

Remove tops and seeds from peppers, and coarsely chop. Set aside.

In a 4 to 6 quart stock pot melt the butter over med. Heat. Whisk in the flour and simmer until thickened into a roux. Slowly add the half & half and milk, simmer over med low heat stirring frequently until smooth. Remove from |

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hot, or refrigerate immediately and reheat before serving. Garnish with a half teaspoon of freshly chopped green onion and a pinch of fresh cracked pepper.

Bon Appétit!

Email Bryan Slaven at bryan@thetexasgourmet.com

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12/6/16 11:49 AM

Outdoor DIRECTORY Guides & Outfitters

::

Lodging

::

Destinations

::

Real Estate :: Gear

TEXAS FRESHWATER

TEXAS FRESHWATER

TEXAS SALTWATER

LAKE AMISTAD

CEDAR CREEK LAKE

MID TEXAS COAST

LOWER TEXAS COAST

HUNTING LAKE TEXOMA

SOUTH TEXAS

TEXAS SALTWATER UPPER TEXAS COAST

NEW 2017 EDITION MID TEXAS COAST DFW METROPLEX

COMING SOON: NEW TF&G APPAREL SEE WWW.FISHGAME.COM

NOW AVAILABLE www.FishandGameGear.com T E X A S

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Bare Bones HUNTING

by LOU MARULLO :: TF&G Hunting Editor

The Search Continues for Your Trophy Buck

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OGI BERRA ONCE SAID, “IT ain’t over till it’s over.” And in Texas, it ain’t over!

It is true that most whitetail bucks are taken the first week of the season, but there are still some out there. You just need to look harder and change your hunting tactics.

The good news is that any bucks you may encounter in the late season will be the big boys; the ones who have outsmarted hunters for another year, so it is not time to give up.

Your freezer is empty, and you still have a tag!

With all the hunting pressure in the woods lately, the deer have learned to adapt once again and go into survival mode. All year long deer have to avoid the hog hunters, hikers, and just about any other human activity in the woods. Now add to the equation a number of deer hunters, both bow and rifle, that have invaded the whitetail’s home turf, and you will be amazed that there are any deer left in the woodlot at all.

Where do they go? How can you find them?

After being chased all season, the deer find the most unlikely places to hide—at least until the pressure cools down a bit. To find these elusive masters, you will most likely have to put up with a few people who might think you have totally lost it.

You should try hunting in those small islands in the middle of fields—or those little two-acre woodlots that you find in the middle of nowhere. Get in there well before it thinks of getting light and just sit and wait.

If deer are using the field to feed in, you might find the buck you were looking for heading straight for your “island” where he feels secure. Who in their right mind would search for him there?

I know what you are thinking. You just have no confidence that the deer are really in there.

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before, but still you have a hard time convincing yourself that you are not wasting your time.

My answer to that is “What have you got to lose?” You already have spent countless numbers of hours searching for him in your favorite woodlot, and you still have your tag. He just might be in that small sweet spot that no one would ever think of hunting.

If you are like me, by this time of the year, you are so tired of getting up at dark thirty in the morning. Your warm bed and some much needed sleep sound so much better than yet another trek in the woods trying to bring home some venison.

If you feel this way, it’s not a bad idea to try your luck later in the day. So how can you expect to fill your tag in the middle of the day when the deer are already in their beds? I agree that it is extremely difficult to be successful if you are alone. The deer hear you coming from a mile away and are ready to sneak off to parts unknown.

I have tried a couple of tricks that have worked—at least some of the time. You will need the aid of a friend or two. Here is where you find who your real friends are.

The first thing you need to do after locating a small patch of woods is to check the wind direction. Both you and your buddy should line up at one end of the thicket. Keep the wind in your face and have your friend start to zigzag slowly through his side of the woods.

Wait about five minutes or so and then you should start to walk slowly through your side of the woods.

It is important to be as quiet as you can.

With you zigzagging through one side of the woods, any deer that might be bedded down should simply sneak off to the other side of the woods and wait for your friend to pass on by.

Often times, a deer will not only move to the other side of the woods, but will try to circle |

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behind the intruder to catch his scent and then bed back down. This is why you, as the second driver, should be alert at all times.

If a deer is indeed bedded down there, you have an excellent chance of seeing him try to sneak away from the first driver and walk right to you unaware of your presence. If you see him before he sees you, you might fill your freezer that afternoon!

Another way to drive deer in the late season involves two of your friends. If you already know a well-used deer trail that could be an escape route, set up near that deer run. It is important to remember to keep the wind in your face.

Have your buddies walk along the outer perimeter of the small woodlot. They should carry with them something that would leave a foreign smell to the woods. It could be some cheap cologne, after shave, or even a can of W-D 40.

Every once in a while they can spray a little of this scent onto a bush as they walk the outside of the woods. Now you are using the buck’s best defense, his nose, against him.

Have your friends start slowly bumping the deer along in the woods toward you.

If the deer starts to head for the edge of the woodlot, it will smell what it perceives to be danger. After all, it just heard someone walking the edge of their bedroom. They will want to stay in the woods, and your friends might bump the deer right to you.

It might work—might not, but it sure beats watching the hunting shows on TV while you still have a tag to fill.

Happy New Year—and remember to have fun out there and hunt safe.

Email Lou Marullo at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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Open SEASON

by REAVIS Z. WORTHAM :: TF&G Humor Editor

Cold

I

WOKE UP BEFORE SUNRISE, LIStening to sleet rattle on the roof of the pop-up trailer. I could see my breath.

My nose was cold, but the wool cap kept my head and ears warm. My sleeping bag is rated down to zero, and I’d slept in my thermals, so I was nice and warm.

Someone shifted on the other side, and the trailer moved. I listened, but through my tinnitus (ringing ears damaged years ago by shooting without ear protection) and the fitted ear plugs I wear when sleeping near the guys, I couldn’t hear anything.

I slid one hand out of the warm bag and pulled out one of the plugs. It didn’t change the tone of the constant ringing, but it answered a significant question.

I was in a frigid trailer with the temperature hovering somewhere in the low twenties, with Doc, Wrong Willie, and Jerry Wayne, and no one was snoring. I pulled out the other ear plug.

A particularly heavy rattle of sleet blew into the trailer’s canvas side.

I finally broke the interior silence. “I know you guys are awake.”

For a long beat, I wondered if I was wrong.

Then, “Yes.” It was Doc. “Jerry Wayne, you aren’t snoring, so you’re awake. And so are you Woodrow.”

I heard a noise. “That’s you Willie. You’re awake, too.”

“So what?”

“You’ve all been lying there in those nice warm sleeping bags, waiting for me to get up and start the generator.”

“Good. You’re awake now.” Woodrow hacked for a moment, suffering from sinus issues. “Go start the generator.”

“I’m not doing it.” I pulled the bag closer to my neck to block a trickle of frigid air. “I did it yesterday. It’s someone else’s turn.”

Willie snickered. “It’s your generator.”

“Yep, and it’s my trailer too. As King, I declare it’s someone else’s turn to get us some

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think I can start it on one pull.” He threw a coat over his shoulders, stuffed his feet into chilly boots, and flew out the door, allowing a gust of icy wind into the trailer.

“Yeeeaaahhh! It’s cold!”

We giggled, knowing the difficulties of his morning ablutions on such a frigid morning.

The sound of his boots crunching on the ice told us he was on to the next duty.

“The tarp blew off the generator!”

Grunts. Sounds.

“It won’t start!”

“Choke!” Doc yelled.

More grunts. Frantic mechanical sounds.

Then the engine buzzed to life, and the heaters immediately glowed, pushing warm air into the trailer.

Willie blew back inside along with a rush of icy air.

“Close the door,” Woodrow said. “You’re letting all the heat out.”

Willie stopped inside, grabbed a rifle, and aimed out the door. He squeezed the trigger, and we all jumped.

“You shot a deer!!!???”

“A buck stood there and watched me fight that generator. I think the sight stunned him.

Who wants to help me clean him?”

We settled back into our sleeping bags like turtles. “It’s too cold.”

Willie sighed. “Dang it. I wish I’d thought of that.”

While we luxuriated in the warmth, he dressed and grumbled about deer hunting.

It was the perfect morning.

heat.”

We lay there in the thin gray light. The trailer shuddered in the wind, making it seem even colder.

Doc cleared his throat. “Didn’t you say the generator was a little contrary yesterday?”

I sighed. “Yeah, it didn’t want to start.”

“And we’ve established it’s your machine?”

“Yes.” “So you know its little idiosyncrasies.”

“Such as they are.”

“Then it should be you. If it was one of us, it might take too long and we’d probably get pneumonia or hypothermia or yaws, and you’d feel bad if that happened.”

We pondered Doc’s argument.

“But,” I said. “I can instruct you from here, through the canvas. All you do is turn it to the ‘on’ switch, choke it, and pull three times. If it doesn’t start, move the choke halfway and pull again. After that, you pull like a monkey until it starts. It isn’t rocket science.”

“Why don’t you get it fixed?” Woodrow asked.

“I don’t run it enough. I really should start it at least every couple of weeks, but I don’t.”

“If I had a generator, I’d keep it running right so my friends wouldn’t be cold when they’re deer hunting.”

“You guys just want me to get up first so y’all can lie there until the heat comes on.”

“Yep.” Wrong Willie snorted.

I thought for a moment. “Ha! I bet one of you has to go to the bathroom. Whoever needs to go should start the generator.”

The trailer was silent for a long time.

Another gust of wind.

Sleet rattled in a continuous onslaught.

Jerry Wayne’s voice cut through the trailer.

“Is the generator covered?”

“I put a tarp over it.”

“It’s out in the wind,” Woodrow said.

“Yes.” More silence.

Wrong Willie thrashed in exasperation. “All right! I’m about to pop anyway.”

It seemed to take hours to free himself from the confines of his sleeping bag. He stood in all this glory, dressed in camouflage thermals. “I F I S H

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Email Reavis Wortham at ContactUs@fishgame.com

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WHITETAIL Mason Twelve-year-old Grady Walters with a very nice 8-point buck. Grady made a perfect 35-yard shot while hunting with is dad, David Walters at their hunting lease near Mason.

REDFISH San Luis Pass Five-year-old Wyatt Sapien from Florence Texas caught this 21-inch red, his biggest so far, while fishing in the San Luis Pass.

TURKEY Rocksprings Fourteen-yearold Esau Powell killed this turkey while hunting in Rocksprings with his “Mimi,” Carol Powell.

Esau’s hunt was guided by Bardy Helwig.

CRAPPIE Spring Hunter Swick, age 5, with his first Crappie. He caught it in a private pond in Spring while fishing with his grandpa. As you can see by his smile, he is very proud of it and loves to fish.

BLACK DRUM Galveston

CATFISH Lake Somerville Howard Watson and Ronny Mahan caught two limits of catfish on Lake Somerville, fishing with Guide Weldon Kirk.

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Carol Pyfer of Irving shows off a big black drum that she caught near the Pelican Island Bridge in Galveston. She was fishing with a tiny dead shrimp on the bottom in about 10 feet of water, trying to catch sandtrout. When she held the fish for this photo the people in the cars on the bridge were all honking and waving.

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SEND YOUR PHOTOS TO photos@FishGame.com For best results, send MED to HIGH quality JPEG digital files only, please.

Also Enter our PHOTO CONTEST: FishGame.com/texas-hotsots-upload No guarantee can be made as to when, or if, a submitted photo will be published.

SIKA Edwards County Duncan Pendleton got this 8-point sika while hunting with his dad, Clint, in Edwards County.

REDFISH Aransas Bay Kevin Harris caught and released this bull redfish while fishing the Aransas paddle trails.

WHITETAIL

WHITETAIL

Mason County

Blanco County

Six-year-old Ethan Ward of Cleveland shot this 10-point buck in Mason County on youth weekend while on his very first hunting trip with his grandpa John Hall. He shot it with a 223.

Nine-year-old Laurel Gatlin with her first buck, which she shot in October. Her guide was her Dad, Robert Henkes. They were hunting on their family property in Blanco County.

CRAPPIE Lake Lavon Twelve-year-old Joseph Pivarnik caught his personal record crappie, a 2-1/4-pounder, while fishing at Lake Lavon near Farmersville. He caught the slab on a minnow.

CRAPPIE Lake Houston Noah Matthew caught his first crappie on a Roadrunner spinner and Iron man fishing pole all by himself no help from his Grand Paw, Scott Frazier.

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